José Cura
Encyclopedia
José Cura is a prominent opera
tic 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 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.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
known for his intense and original interpretations of his characters, notably Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
’s Otello
Otello
Otello is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play Othello. It was Verdi's penultimate opera, and was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on February 5, 1887....
and Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
’ Samson, as well as for his unconventional and innovative concert performances. He is also able to perform high baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
roles with the extended lower parts of his vocal range.
José Cura was born in Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. He originally trained as an orchestral conductor, his vocal talents largely unrecognised until 1988 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
Cavalleria rusticana
Cavalleria rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play written by Giovanni Verga based on his short story. Considered one of the classic verismo operas, it premiered on May 17, 1890 at the Teatro...
and then stepped on stage after intermission to sing Canio in I Pagliacci at the Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
Opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
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
British Youth Opera
Since it was founded in 1987, British Youth Opera has enabled over a thousand singers, instrumentalists, conductors, directors and production staff to gain experience through its annual September performances and workshop and masterclass series....
(BYO). In 2007 José Cura was appointed a visiting professor of the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London.
Career milestones
- 1993 - Signorina Julia by Bibalo, Teatro Verdi, Trieste, Italy; first starring role
- 1994 - Le Villi by Puccini, Festival della Valle d'ItriaFestival della Valle d'ItriaThe Festival della Valle d’Itria is a summer opera festival held in the south eastern Italian town of Martina Franca in the Apulia region. The Festival was founded in 1975 and performances are given in July and August each summer on a specially constructed stage in the outdoor courtyard of the...
, 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 OperaVienna State OperaThe Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
, 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 CentreBarbican CentreThe Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
, 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 - EdgarEdgarEdgar is a common name from Old English words ead + gar . Literally meaning "prosperity-spear" or "prosperous spearman." It may refer to:-Historical:...
by Puccini, Teatro Regio, Turin, Italy; first modern performance of the original version in 4 acts
Prizes and awards
- 1994 - 1st Prize - Plácido DomingoPlácido DomingoPlácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
'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 RosarioRosarioRosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
, Argentina - 1999 - ECHO – Deutscher Schallplattenpreis: Sänger des Jahres, Germany
- 2000 - Chevalier de l'Ordre du Cedre - LebaneseLebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
government - 2001 - Best Artist of the Year, Grup de Liceistes – BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
- 2002 - The Ewa Czeszejko – Sochacka Foundation Award, Poland
- 2003 - Artist of the Year – Catullus Prize, Italy
- 2004 - Citizen of Honour – City of Veszprem, Hungary
Official
- José Cura's Official Site
- Reviews, articles, photos and future schedules for José Cura from The Opera Critic
- Cuibar Productions
- Interview with José Cura on MusicalCriticism.com, September 2008