From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
José Cura (born December 5, 1962) is a
prominent operatic tenor known for his intense and
original interpretations of his characters, notably Verdi’s Otello and Saint-Saëns’ Samson, as well as for his unconventional
and innovative concert performances. He is also able to perform
high baritone roles with
the extended lower parts of his vocal range.
José Cura was born in Rosario, Argentina. He originally trained as an
orchestral conductor, his vocal talents largely unrecognised until
1988[1] He
became the first artist to sing and conduct simultaneously (both in
concert and on recordings) and the first to combine singing with
symphonic works in a ‘half and half’ concert format. Cura made
operatic history when he first conducted Cavalleria Rusticana and then stepped
on stage after intermission to sing Canio in I
Pagliacci at the Hamburg Opera in February 2003.
A compelling actor and charismatic stage performer, Cura has
been featured in numerous telecasts of opera and concert
productions from venues around the world.
He created Cuibar Productions, formed by the following branches:
Cuibar Phono Video (Recording Label), CuibArt (Artist
Management).
He is also the Patron of the New Devon Opera and the
Vice-President of British Youth Opera (BYO). In 2007
José Cura was appointed a visiting professor of the Royal
Academy of Music in London[2].
Career
milestones
- 1993 - Signorina Julia by Bibalo, Teatro Verdi, Trieste, Italy;
first starring role
- 1994 - Le Villi by Puccini, Festival della Valle
d'Itria, Italy; first recorded performance
- 1995 - Stiffelio by Verdi, R.O.H. Covent Garden, London, UK;
house debut
- 1995 - Nabucco by Verdi, L'Opera National de Paris (Bastille),
Paris, France; house debut
- 1996 - Samson et Dalila, R.O.H. Covent Garden, London, UK, role
debut
- 1996 - Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni, Ravenna, Italy; first
televised performance
- 1996 - Tosca by Puccini, Vienna State Opera, Vienna, Austria;
house debut
- 1997 - La Gioconda by Ponchielli, Teatro alla Scala, Milan,
Italy; house debut
- 1997 - Otello by Verdi, Teatro Regio, Turin, Italy; role debut,
broadcast live
- 1998 - Aida by Verdi, New Imperial Theatre, Tokyo, Japan; role
and house debut. Inaugural season of the new theatre and first time
an opera production was fully built in Japan
- 1998 - Manon Lescaut by Puccini, Teatro alla Scala, Milan,
Italy; recorded on video
- 1998 - Samson et Dalila, Washington Opera,
USA, house debut
- 1999 - Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni, Metropolitan Opera,
New York, USA; only the second tenor in Met’s history to make his
debut on the season’s Opening Night (the other one having been
Caruso in 1902)
- 2000 - La Traviata à Paris, filmed on location in Paris,
France, and broadcast live to an audience of millions around the
world
- 2001 - A Passion for Verdi, L.S.O., Barbican Centre, London, UK; available
in DVD
- 2001 - Appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Polish
orchestra Sinfonia Varsovia
- 2002 - Created Cuibar Phono Video (CPV), the recording label of
Cuibar Productions, Cura’s own company. The same year, CPV releases
Rachmaninov’s 2º Symphony with Sinfonia Varsovia; Cura’s first
symphonic studio recording is considered by many to be among the
best recordings ever of this work
- 2008 - Edgar by Puccini,
Teatro Regio, Turin, Italy; first modern performance of the
original version in 4 acts
Prizes and
awards
- 1994 - 1st Prize - Plácido Domingo's Operalia International Opera
Competition
- 1997 - Abbiati Award – Italian Critics Prize
- 1998 - Orphée d’Or - Académie du Disque Lyrique, France
- 1999 - Professor Honoris Causae – Universidad C.A.E.C.E,
Argentina
- 1999 - Citizen of Honour – City of Rosario, Argentina
- 1999 - ECHO – Deutscher Schallplattenpreis: Sänger des Jahres,
Germany
- 2000 - Chevalier de l'Ordre du Cedre - Lebanese government
- 2001 - Best Artist of the Year, Grup de Liceistes – Barcelona
- 2002 - The Ewa Czeszejko – Sochacka Foundation Award,
Poland
- 2003 - Artist of the Year – Catullus Prize, Italy
- 2004 - Citizen of Honour – City of Veszprem, Hungary
References
- Anthony Holden, You wait years for a nice
young tenor..., The Observer, November 7, 2004.
Retrieved 28 May 2008.
- A thrilling voice and
charisma to burn, The Daily Telegraph, April 16,
2001. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
- Trouble on the high Cs,
The Daily Telegraph April 18, 2002. Retrieved 28 May
2008.
- 'Otello' delivers fury and
passion, Washington
Times, March 4, 2000. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
- Octavio Roca, La Traviata Goes on
Location in Paris, TV experiment brings drama, intimacy to
Verdi, San Francisco Chronicle,
August 25, 2000. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
External
links
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