Paulo Abrão Esper was born in Jacareí, Brazil, where he was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen by the City Council in recognition of his outstanding cultural achievements.

In 1991, he founded Cia Ópera São Paulo, of which he serves as General and Artistic Director, as well as the Associação Amigos da Ópera de Jacareí.

He began his artistic career as a tenor, making his debut at the Municipal Theatre of São Paulo. With his opera company, he has presented more than 2,000 performances throughout Brazil, staging 70 opera titles in over 300 performances.

In 1993, he founded the Concurso Brasileiro de Canto Maria Callas (Brazilian Maria Callas Singing Competition) and the Grandi Voci della Lirica series, through which he has brought to Brazil, for concerts, recitals, masterclasses and as jury members of the competition, some of the greatest names in the operatic world, including Magda Olivero, Fedora Barbieri, Fiorenza Cossotto, Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Gabriella Tucci, Renato Bruson, Juan Pons, Jaime Aragall, Katia Ricciarelli, Mariella Devia, Daniela Dessì and Fabio Armiliato, among many others.

He has also served as a jury member in more than 40 international singing competitions, including the Riccardo Zandonai Competition, the Francisco Viñas Competition in Barcelona, the Renata Tebaldi Competition in San Marino, the Ottavio Ziino Competition in Rome, the Jaime Aragall Competition in Sabadell, the Ópera de Tenerife Competition, the Florence Opera Competition, the Vincerò Competition in Verona, the Sarzana Competition and the Alida Ferrarini Competition in Villafranca, among many others.

The City of Sirmione awarded him the Commenda d'Onore (Order of Honour) for his work with the Maria Callas Competition, whose 25th consecutive edition will be held in 2027, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the death of the legendary Greek soprano.

Since 2001, he has served as a consultant to the Italian Cultural Institute in São Paulo and has organized, on behalf of the Consulate General of Italy in São Paulo, the touring project A Caminho do Interior, presenting Italian operas such as Gianni Schicchi, Cavalleria Rusticana, Suor Angelica and Pagliacci in cities throughout the State of São Paulo.

In 2022, he was awarded the honour of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the promotion of Italian opera and musical culture in Brazil.