José Cura

José Cura (born December 5, 1962 in Rosario, Argentina) a world-famous opera tenor singer 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.

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

Key Prizes & Awards

• 1994 - First Prize, International Singers Competition Operalia
• 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
• 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 - Citiyen of Honour, Citz of Vesprem, Hungary

In 2000, Maestro José Cura was knighted ?Chevalier de l?Ordre du Cedre? by the Lebanese Government.

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