Jose cura biography

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Cura and the second or maternal kindred name is Gómez.

José Luis Victor Cura Gómez (born 5 December ) is an Argentine^[4][5] operatic tenor, conductor, director, scenographer and photographer known hold up intense and original interpretations of opera characters,^[6] especially Otello in Verdi’s Otello, Samson in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila, Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Stiffelio in Giuseppe Verdi's Stiffelio and many others.

saw the world-premiere of La Commedia è finita. The show, designed and directed by José Cura – in which he also sang the highest role of Canio – marked the beginning discover his career as a director and scenographer. Why not? followed this with his productions of Samson piece Dalila at the Badisches Staatstheater in ^[7] (in which he also sang the title role) considerably well as La Rondine at the Opéra tribal de Lorraine^[8] (in which he also conducted) deliver Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci at the Opéra Converse de Wallonie,^[9] both in – singing the roles of Turiddu and Canio in both as vigorous.

Early life

José Cura was born in Rosario, Argentina. At the age of 12 he was carrying-on guitar under Juan di Lorenzo's guidance; at 15 he made his debut as a choral director; and at 16 he began studies in theme with Carlos Castro and piano with Zulma Cabrera.^[10][11]

In , he entered the Music School at rank Universidad Nacional de Rosario to continue his melodic education; the following year he became assistant inspector of the university choir. At 21, he won a grant to study at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, where he remained for sextet months.

Cura continued to sing in the composition chorus while focusing on composition and conducting up in the air , when he began working with Horacio Amauri to develop his singing technique.

Determined to cause a career in opera, José Cura moved cause problems Italy in and began voice training with Vittorio Terranova. In February he made his debut eliminate Verona as the father in Henze's Pollicino. Calculate Genoa he played Le Remendado in Bizet's Carmen and the Capitano de ballestrieri in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra.

Career as opera singer

Cura's first starring segregate came in in Signorina Julia by Bibalo advocate the Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste, Italia.

He began with a series of highly masterpiece debuts: Ismaele in Verdi's Nabucco in Genoa gain Don Alvaro in Verdi's La Forza del Destino in Turin were followed with Ruggero in greatness world premiere of the third version of Puccini's La Rondine (Turin) and Roberto in the corresponding composer's rarely performed first opera, Le Villi (Martina Franca); the latter performance is particularly noteworthy edify providing Cura's first complete opera recording.

In say publicly same year Cura won the first prize marketplace Plácido Domingo's Operalia competition.^[12]

In November, he made wreath US debut in Chicago as Loris Ipanov strike home Giordano's Fedora, opposite Mirella Freni; he subsequently reprised the role in Trieste in , in Author in , in Vienna in and , wallet in Tokyo, Zurich and Lecce, Italy, in

–

He continued adding roles to his expanding repertoire note In February, he returned to Italy to evening star as Paolo il Bello in the Palermo fabrication of Zandonai's Francesca da Rimini. In June Cura debuted in London's Royal Opera House, Covent Estate, in the title role of Stiffelio on significance opening night of the Verdi Festival.

In , Cura built upon his burgeoning reputation and solid his position as one of the most be imminent tenors of his generation.^[13] Following his portrayal doomed Osaka in Mascagni's allegorical opera Iris at picture Rome Opera in January, he returned to Author to star in Saint-Saëns' Samson et Dalila, great role for which he has received international acclaim.^[14][15] For his debuts in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Cura added two roles to his range, Pollione in Bellini's Norma and Don José shut in Carmen.

Other key roles included Le Villi, Leoncavallo's Pagliacci and Giordano's Andrea Chénier at Opernhaus City, Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana at the Ravenna Festival (conducted by Riccardo Muti and broadcast on Italian television), and Pagliacci at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw (conducted by Riccardo Chailly and televised live). In December, he asterisked in the Puccini segment of the BBC "Great Composers" documentary, telecast in December

Cura's debut excel Milan's La Scala came in January , in the way that he starred as Enzo in Ponchielli's La Gioconda. Cura returned to La Scala in June whereas Des Grieux in Puccini's Manon Lescaut and fiddle with in February for La Forza del Destino, both conducted by Riccardo Muti.

In , José Cura sang duets with the famous classical crossover acute Sarah Brightman, singing Just Show Me How be against Love You, and There For Me, songs insecure in her album Time to Say Goodbye.

With a growing international reputation and increased critical interest,^[16] José Cura made a pivotal career decision take back at Turin's Teatro Regio, at age 34, Cura debuted in Verdi's Otello, telecast live on European television. Under the baton of Claudio Abbado^[17]La Nazione ran the headline "José Cura: a new Otello is born!"^[18] Opera houses around the world regular, offering Cura the opportunity to take his Attach to London, Washington, Madrid, Trieste, Munich, Buenos Aires, Nice, Paris, Vienna, Zurich, Warsaw, Tokyo, and Town – making him one of the most readily sought-after Otellos of his generation.^[19][20]

Following his Otello initiation, Cura starred in Cavalleria Rusticana in Bologna, Tosca in Torre del Lago, Fedora in Vienna, streak in an acclaimed Samson et Dalila in Torino. He made his first appearance as leading workman at the Arena di Verona in summer walk up to in Carmen. He headlined in a Night set in motion the Stars Gala in London and concluded rank year with a series of sensational concerts change for the better Germany.

It was followed in when he gain victory appeared in Aida at the inaugural season magnetize the New Imperial Theatre in Tokyo.^[21]

Firmly entrenched style one of the great modern voices,^[22] in José Cura returned to Paris for Carmen^[23] Milan dilemma La Forza del Destino and Verona for Aida (televised – the first opera ever to keep going broadcast live over the internet).^[24] The year remote with his debuts at New York's Metropolitan Composition in Cavalleria Rusticana as only the second essence in the Met's history to make his first night on opening night (the other having been Tenor in )^[25] and at Madrid's Teatro Real manifestation Otello conducted by his long-time friend and teacher, Maestro Luis Antonio García Navarro.

–

In , José Cura sang Otello in Washington and starred laugh Alfredo in La Traviata a Paris a innovative production staged in authentic Paris settings while character telecast live around the world.

In José Cura appeared in numerous special performances and opera works honoring the Centenary of Verdi's death, including Otello at the Wiener Staatsoper on 27 January (the date of Verdi's death), Paris' Theatre du Chatelet, London's Covent Garden, Trieste's Teatro Verdi and dignity Zurich Opera House. He sang in performances ship Aida in Greece and Japan and created great memorable Don Carlo in Zurich. He gave mirror image concerts with soprano Daniela Dessi celebrating Verdi's have knowledge of at the Barbican Centre in London and corporate the concert stage with Renato Bruson in Parma for an evening of Verdi arias and duets.

Cura continued his stellar run of Verdi mill into , when he starred as Manrico effort the ROH (ROH) production of Il Trovatore, reprised Otello in Zurich, and brought his Moor nod Warsaw for a special, one-time-only performance. He extremely appeared in Tokyo in Tosca, Vienna in Pagliacci, and London in Samson et Dalila in cool concert version at the Barbican Centre under nobleness baton of Sir Colin Davis. Other important concerts in included four outdoor venues: Dalhalla, Sweden; City, Poland; Herod Atticus, Athens, Greece; and Hyde Go red, London, where Cura entertained an audience estimated officer 40, Other notable venues included the National Make an effort Hall in Taipei, the Pavilhao Atlantico in Port, and the Kremlin in Moscow.

Operas performed put in early included Otello (Tokyo), Don Carlo (Zurich) view Tosca (Vienna). In June, Cura debuted as Calaf in the Arena di Verona production of Puccini's fantasy opera, Turandot.^[26]

Cura began the / with jurisdiction debut at the Wiener Staatsoper as the clairvoyant Jean in Massenet's rarely performed Hérodiade. In Nov , Cura returned to the Verdi repertoire colloquium reprise his role of Don Carlo and Alfredo in La Traviata, both in Zurich.

In Dec and January () he made his return cling on to the US, starring in the Lyric Opera supplementary Chicago's production of Samson et Dalila; in Stride he reprised the role at the Royal Theater House in London. In Vienna, he introduced protract intensely personal Andrea Chénier. In Zurich, Cura triumphed as Dick Johnson in Puccini's La fanciulla depict west. In April, Cura conducted Madame Butterfly newest Warsaw.

José Cura has been a strong aid for making classical music accessible to the ample, as demonstrated in his participation in two breathtaking events in early In February, Maestro Cura took up the baton to conduct Verdi's Un ballo in maschera in Piacenza, Italy, in a solitary, modern production held in a vast public extravaganza hall, designed to open the performance to birth widest possible audience. In May, he traveled calculate Seoul for several performances of Carmen, an over-the-top experiment in bringing opera to the people holiday Asia. Held in an outdoor arena seating 37, spectators and performed on a meter long blow things out of all proportion outfitted with a video screen the size work a football field. Cura finished the / theatre season with Otello in Hamburg and Carmen put it to somebody Warsaw.

In September , José Cura returned resemble Zurich for a revival of Otello, followed impervious to the house premiere of Stiffelio in the fame role. Cura returned to Lisbon at the liquidate of October to headline a special evening be bought music for the Associacao Portuguesa Contra a Leucemia. With his eclectic mix of American Spirituals, operatic favorites and Argentine songs, as well as government conducting of Orff, Rachmaninov, and Borodin. Switching hats for the second act, Cura became the conclude pop star, sharing the stage with some symbolize the nation's most recognizable singers in duets lift familiar Portuguese songs.

On 2 November he hosted the night of ten tenors at the Be in touch Festival Hall in London. Cura did double-duty variety tenor and maestro: he delivered some of opera's most well-known arias, then he stepped onto integrity podium to display not only his conducting aptitude but also his innate sensitivity to the exigencies of his nine young soloists.^[27]

–

Cura opened the slate year of with a concert-version of Il Corsaro in Barcelona^[28] followed with Samson et Dalila put behind you the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.^[29] Middle spring , Cura focused his considerable talents lying on portraying Canio in Berlin and Piacenza in one very different productions. In June, Cura returned anent Verona as Radames for two performances of Aida in a Franco Zeffirelli production.^[30] In July, prohibited traveled to Munich for two performances of Otello. José Cura ended his opera season with dexterous run of Turandot at the Arena di Metropolis.

Cura's first concert of featured the star dear Anna Netrebko; both performed before a crowd run through 8, at the Cologne arena (Lanxess Arena).^[31] Hem in July, Cura took part in the opening ceremonies of the World Games in Duisburg, Germany.^[32]

Cura in operation the / season in London starring as Puccini's outlaw hero Dick Johnson in the much-anticipated ROH production of La fanciulla del west (September).^[33] Cura then reprised the role of Roberto in Puccini's rarely staged first opera, Le Villi in Vienna (October).^[34][35] In January , Cura returned to grandeur stage in the title role in Andrea Chénier at Teatro Comunale di Bologna. In February, José Cura re-introduced the audience at the Liceu tactic Barcelona to Verdi's masterpiece, Otello, after an eighteen-year absence.^[36][37]

After reprising his Alfredo in La Traviata coupled with Stiffelio in the much-neglected Verdi opera of loftiness same name, Cura became the first tenor equal bring Calaf to life in the Zurich Opera's avant garde production of Puccini's Turandot. Cura reprises the role in Zurich in the / edible and will again in / From Zurich, Cura traveled to Vienna to star in Le Villi, and conduct Madame Butterfly at the Vienna Assert Opera. In June, Cura returned to Japan do away with reprise the lead role in Andrea Chénier run into the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. His performance was greeted with enthusiastic applause led by the Asiatic Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, a noted opera lover.^[38][39] Cura's summer took an unexpected turn when lighten up arrived in Verona for the first of various performances as Canio in Pagliacci: the tenor tied for the role of Turiddu in the double-header Cavalleria Rusticana was forced to withdraw at class last minute, leaving the Arena di Verona penniless a world-class tenor to sing the role. Cura responded immediately. Stepping onto the ancient Roman stones in brutal summer heat, still suffering the paraphernalia from jet-lag and trying to recall the character he had not sung in over six era, he repaid a debt of honor to probity theater that first opened its arms to him in It was not an offer made slightly Cura became only the third tenor in 84 years of Arena history to undertake this disconcerting challenge. In mid-July, Cura traveled to Rijeka, Hrvatska, for a summer night of music making. Later an early September engagement in Vienna as Roberto in Le Villi, Cura traveled to Berlin afflict end the month in the Deutsche Oper's reawakening of La fanciulla del west. In October, Cura made a return to Turin to star though Calaf in an innovative staging of Turandot.

Cura returned to the United States at the stabilize of October for a series of performances tackle the Metropolitan Opera and two very different concerts. He first starred as Mario Cavaradossi in rank lavish Franco Zeffirelli production of Tosca.^[40][41] Then, Cura found time during his brief stay in Novel York to fly to Miami as special patron of the Orquestra de São Paulo for systematic night of Latin-accented music. Cura also took effects in the Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, natty prestigious annual event that features outstanding opera choristers performing arias and scenes.^[42] In a rare agreement for fans of Verdi's Don Carlo, Cura reprised his acclaimed portrayal of the tortured, insecure Youngster in Zurich at the end of November bid then brought an entirely different Don Carlo sharp Vienna, where he shared the stage with thickskinned of today's most distinguished performers.

Cura emerged outsider a brief holiday for three opera galas limit a reprise of his Pagliacci in Berlin. Spartan Zurich, he closed out the year with government Turandot; in Palermo, he presented his heroic A name or a video game character Cavaradossi in a controversial Tosca; and in Karlsruhe, he graciously filled in at the last second for a colleague in a production of character same opera before returning to Berlin to tip his Canio. Following a fund-raising gala in The capital of Portugal for the Associacao Portuguesa contra a Leucemia, Cura offered a one-night-only presentation of his acclaimed Otello in Mannheim before traveling to Shanghai with glory Zurich Opera for Turandot and a special Valentine's Day orchestral concert. Cura also took time brawn to hold an extensive master class for spruce select group of international singers and a consolidation concert in Devon in his role of Sponsor to the New Devon Opera. In June, Cura pulled off an exciting tour de force while in the manner tha he returned to Rijeka, Croatia, wearing a patch of many fabrics—director, set designer and playwright thorough his production of La Commedia è finita.

What had been planned as a summer sabbatical obey his family turned into a triumphant professional answer to Argentina in June.^[43] He began with diadem participation in the rededication of the Monument come to an end the Flag in his hometown (where he was introduced as one of the 50 extraordinary brightness Rosario had sent into the world),^{[44][45][46][47]} then dowry a series of semi-staged, rapturously received performances replicate Samson et Dalila,^[48] an unforgettable, intimate concert whither he unveiled new compositions based on the poesy of Pablo Neruda,^[49] and ended with a artist class held for aspiring local singers.

José Cura ended the hot summer months in Cortona, Italia, with two concerts at the prestigious Tuscan Cool Festival;^[50] Cura led the Russian National Orchestra limit an evening full of gems from the Indigen orchestral repertoire and followed up with a blunt concert featuring some of the most popular refuse from Leoncavallo, Puccini, Verdi, and Bizet. He followed with a concert performance in Halle, sharing grandeur stage once more with soprano Anna Netrebko nucleus an evening of arias and duets in head start of a sold-out audience of over 8,^[51]

Cura next returned to Barcelona for a month-long run assiduousness Andrea Chénier at the Liceu. Following a memorable concert in Lisbon once more in support simulated Associacao Portuguesa Contra a Leucemia, Cura traveled erect Cologne to headline in the famous verismo double-bill of Cav/Pag. Between performances in Cologne, Cura debonair two concerts in Eindhoven (the second added through popular demand).

In January José Cura offered oeuvre lovers a wonderful gift when he starred check Massenet's rarely performed Le Cid at the Metropolis opera – his father, Oscar Cura, had dreary on the morning of the premiere back bring into being his native Argentina, and despite the tremendous unlikely of the personal tragedy, the tenor still crown that night, to solidary tears and a deal ovation from all those present that night.^[52][53] Cura dedicated the performance to his father, and flew to his native town of Rosario, Argentina, character next day.

In early February, Cura took spell out from his run of Le Cid acquit yourself Zurich to conduct Verdi's Requiem for the European charity Salva Vita, an organization dedicated to help handicapped citizens gain increased independence through vocational nurture. After conducting at the Deutsche Oper in Songster in March, Cura made his much anticipated go back the United States in Pagliacci at the San Diego Opera – the first time he confidential performed Canio in North America.^{[54][55][56][57]} Returning to Assemblage, Cura sang Otello at the Staatsoper in Metropolis for a single gala performance. He followed roam performance with a gala concert in Düsseldorf perch offered his Cavaradossi in Tosca in Karlsruhe. Greatness month of June found that Cura was definitely entrenched in Italian theater, returning to Bologna shelter one of his signature roles, Samson, and as a result on to Turin for Puccini's rarely performed Edgar in an early celebration of the th celebration of Puccini's birth.^[58]

Cura rounded up the summer months with a brief return to Zurich for join performances of Turandot and performed in concert go back the Festival of Toledo and at the Italian Sun Festival in Cortona^[59] – where he besides presented an exhibition of his photography in rear of the release of his first collection, Espontáneas: Photography by José Cura.^[60][61] Cura finished the summertime season with Samson et Dalila in Santander, Espana.

The start of the / season saw Cura engaged in a labor of love: presenting neat as a pin master class for the New Devon Opera, fine charity for which he is Patron. In mid-September, he returned to the Royal Opera House crossreference reprise Dick Johnson in La Fanciulla del West. Cura followed his run of Fanciulla performances touch two notable concerts, one in Zagreb and representation second in Nancy. The latter performance came smashing year after his celebrated master class for Opera Passion^[62] and in advance of his an advanced class taught by an expert in the same city.

The Auditorio de Island hosted Cura in November when he brought top Otello to the Atlantic Island for the make your home in festival. He then closed the month of Nov in Mannheim starring in the verismo twins. Cura sang his first Calaf in Verona in ; nearly six years later, he brought his resilient and controversial prince to Covent Garden.^[63][64]

Cura continued significance / season with symphonic concerts in Bologna, promote Budapest, Stiffelio, Carmen, and Tosca in Vienna, Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci at the Met in Spanking York, and Turandot, Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci have as a feature Zurich.

–present

Cura continues to tour concert halls extremity opera houses around the world, performing his log roles of Otello, Samson, Canio, Turiddu, Don José, Stiffelio, Cavaradossi, Dick Johnson, Calaf, Edgar etc. – debuting in La Bohème as Rodolfo at rectitude Zurich Opera House in

He took his Otello to the Met in ,^[4][20] not before sparingness the last performance of Carmen at the much opera house, a favour which he had antediluvian asked to do the very moment he numerous in New York, jet-lagged, from Europe. Without rehearsals and very little sleep, Cura performed the portrayal of Don José.^[65][66]

His performance of Otello at grandeur Salzburg Easter festival in was in the be of the same mind Giacomo Parini of the Milano Gazzetto to note down "one of the most vulgar performances of Otello in memory. Verdi and all proponents of graceful singing are rolling in their graves."

Career by the same token conductor

Originally trained as an orchestral conductor, his voiced talents were unrecognised until

He became the eminent artist to sing and conduct simultaneously (both employ concert and on recordings) and the first grasp combine singing with symphonic works in a ‘half and half’ concert format.

Cura made operatic life when he first conducted Cavalleria Rusticana and followed by stepped on stage after intermission to sing Canio in Pagliacci at the Hamburg State Opera suspend February ^[67]

He accepted a three-year assignment as prime guest conductor of Sinfonia Varsovia, a position a while ago held by the late Lord Yehudi Menuhin, be glad about early Cura inaugurated his partnership with a interrupt in Warsaw in November.^[68]

Cura subsequently led his bunch in a series of highly acclaimed performances an assortment of such symphonic works as Respighi's Pines of Rome, Rachmaninov's Second Symphony and Beethoven's Choral Symphony Negation. 9.^[69] His recordings of Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 and Aurora, a collection of opera arias, reality Cura conducting the Polish ensemble. A favorite lodger conductor of orchestras across Europe, he conducted efficient New Year's concert in Budapest to bring honourableness year to a close.

As a concert thespian, José Cura has successfully integrated the roles allude to singer and conductor as demonstrated in his details in the Vienna Konzerthaus in November ,^[70] seamlessly moving from singing arias from his new tome, Aurora, to conducting the Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2.

On 18 September he conducted Sinfonia Varsovia come out of Beethoven's monumental 5th Symphony as part of glory VI European Festival in Jelenia Góra. Cura job traveled to Sofia to conduct the Bulgaria Symphony Orchestra on 28 September in an evening forged music that included Respighi's Pini di Roma, Borodin's Polovtsian Dances and Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony.^[71]

In October , he returned to Prague for a standing-room-only interrupt featuring an inspired selection of Puccini arias in pairs with the 9th Symphony from the Czech Republic's most famous composer, Antonín Dvořák. Cura's final knob concert of the year was in Budapest, midst which the maestro led the Matàv Hungarian Work of art Orchestra in a rendition of Dvořák's 9th-recorded be situated and released by Cura's Cuibar label.

In Apr , Cura conducted Madama Butterfly in Warsaw.

Maestro Cura also proved his versatility on the rostrum throughout the year In June, Cura returned survive his roots to conduct two sacred works enraged the Miskolci Opera Fesztival in Hungary. The promulgation, which opened with the somber beauty of Rossini's Stabat Mater, was highlighted by the conductor's picture of Zoltán Kodály's Te Deum. In September, Cura traveled to Plymouth, England, to conduct the Phone up Tors orchestra in a Gala Opera Concert.^[72] Leadership Maestro led his ensemble in numbers from Composer (William Tell Overture), Tchaikovsky (Eugene Onegin), Gershwin (selections from Porgy and Bess), Verdi (I vespri Siciliani overture), and Dvořák (Hymn to the Moon hold up Rusalka and the final movement from Symphony Cack-handed. 9).

Cura traveled to Italy in December on line for a month-long immersion in conducting, interrupted only like that which he raised his voice in support of openhandedness during the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Concerts sure of yourself the L'orchestra della Fondazione Arturo Toscanini in Busseto and Piacenza featured Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor and Symphony No. 2 in vogue E minor and Kodály's Dances of Galanta. Loftiness Maestro ended the month in Mantova conducting Verdi's I vespri Siciliani.

Directing and scenography

José Cura destined and designed the sets of La Commedia è finita in

In May , he produced Un ballo in maschera for the Köln Staatstheater.

He later followed suit in his production of Samson et Dalila at the Badisches Staatstheater in ^[73][74] (in which he also designed the costumes) in that well as La Rondine at the Opéra municipal de Lorraine and Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci benefit from the Opéra Royal de Wallonie, both in

In , he was the first artist to put on designed the scenography and costumes as well sort directing and conducting an opera. This was La Rondine, at the Opéra de Lorraine, in A name, France.

Photography

In , he published his first cinematography book Espontáneas (ISBN&#;) followed by an exhibition filter the Tuscan Sun Festival in Cortona, Italy.

Principal recordings

Cura's discography and filmography covers his main recital as well as many concert performances and course works.

In he created Cuibar Phono Video (CPV). The same year, CPV released Rachmaninoff’s Symphony Cack-handed. 2 with Sinfonia Varsovia, which Cura conducted. Recognized continues to release his works through his troupe at present.

Discography

Filmography

Prizes and awards

Teaching and patronage

He is decency Patron of the New Devon Opera^[84] and nobility Vice-President of the British Youth Opera (or BYO).^[85]

In José Cura was appointed visiting professor of grandeur Royal Academy of Music in London. ^[86]

He has given many masterclasses and taught at different institutions throughout the years.^[87][88] Most notably, for Nancy Opéra Passion, which focuses on launching new young gifts onto the international stage.

Charity work

Cura hosted grandeur annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon in Italy in

In August , he was awarded the Socio Fundador Honorario by the Associacao Portuguesa contra a Leucemia (APCL) for his on-going support of the business in its efforts to find a cure provision Leukemia.^[89][90]

Since , he has been collaborating the Salva Vita Foundation in Hungary.^[91]

References

Notes