Biography
International sensation, tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz has in recent seasons sung in some of the most important theatres in the world.
He has had the honor of being mentored by two of the most important tenors of our time, Plácido Domingo and Ramón Vargas.
Mr. Domingo has been a wonderful influence for Arturo, having discovered Chacón-Cruz in 2001, then granting him the Plácido Domingo scholarship, to continue his studies. He also helped launch his international career, after his success in Domingo's International Competition "Operalia". Since, he has been a part of Arturo's life and career, from sharing the stage in various operas and concerts, as well as having conducted Arturo on several occasions.
Arturo studied voice with Ramón Vargas after winning the "Vargas Pro Opera" grant. Since then, they have become friends and Arturo continues to hone his musical skills under Maestro Vargas' tutelage.
In the 2009/2010 he has performed the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto with the Opera Nacional de Bellas Artes (Mexico), the debut of Uriel in Haydn's The Creation and the Tenor Solo in Mendelssohn's Elijah (The Mexico City Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria).
He returned to the Berlin State Opera for his signature role of Rodolfo in La Bohème, and made his Portland Opera and Cologne (Germany) Opera debuts with the same role in 2009. He also did his Hamburg State Opera debut with the role of Pinkerton in November 2009.
He will be performing the role of the Duke of Mantua with the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee and with the Opera Royal de Wallonie in Belgium in 2010.
We are pleased to announce Arturo's participation in the prestigious International Arts Festival "Aichi Triennale" in Nagoya, Japan, in September of 2010, where he will the performing one of his favorite roles, the Title role in Les Contes d'Hoffmann.
In the fall of 2006 he appeared at the Washington National Opera as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, a role he had already performed with Houston Grand Opera in two different productions in 2004 and 2005. Subsequently, he made his Italian stage debut as Rodolfo in La Bohème at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, followed by appearances as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. His Spanish debut was in Valencia where he appeared as Christian in Alfano's Cyrano de Bergerac opposite Plácido Domingo (DVD is available worldwide by Naxos). He added the title role in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette to his repertoire for Michigan Opera Theatre in the spring of 2007. He then was heard at the Festival de Radio France in Montpellier as Marcello di Bruges in Donizetti's Il Duca d'Alba, the recording of which is now available on Amazon.com by Universal Records. Also, you can hear Arturo in Soprano Renee Fleming's Verismo CD in some tracks as a guest artist.
During the course of the 2007/2008 season, he returned to Washington as Rodolfo in La Bohème, made his LA Opera debut as the tenor soloist for the Verdi Requiem, in honor of Luciano Pavarotti, conducted by renowned tenor Plácido Domingo, returning later in the season as Rodolfo in La Bohème. He sang Rodolfo in La Bohème in Berlin Staatsoper and Ruggero in La Rondine in Venice with the Teatro la Fenice.
To end the season, Arturo Chacón-Cruz sang Alfredo in La Traviata and Ruggero in La Rondine for Michigan Opera Theater, made his debut as Lensky in Eugene Onegin in Mexico City's Palacio de Bellas Artes, and also made his debut with the Cincinnati Opera in Catán's Florencia en el Amazonas.
He also had the honor of performing in a private recital at the Royal Palace "del Pardo" in Madrid for His and Her Majesties the King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain during the official visit of Mexico's President Felipe Calderon to Spain.
In the 2008/09 season, Mr. Chacón-Cruz went back to Washington National Opera for La Traviata, reprised Rodolfo in La Bohème with a new production in Graz, Austria and added the title role in Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann to his repertoire for his debut at the Teatro Regio in Turin. Recently he was acclaimed for his role debut of Faust with the Opera de Montpellier in France. He also did reprise the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Florida Grand Opera.
Mr. Chacón-Cruz has also appeared often in concert. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2002, singing Mozart's Coronation Mass, and he returned to Carnegie Hall in 2003 to sing Beethoven's Mass in C and Charpentier's Te Deum with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, as well a concert with the New York Pops in 2006. Recently he appeared as the Tenor Solo in the Verdi Requiem with the Colorado Symphony in 2009.
He made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra as part of the "Summer in the City" concert series in 2004 and in 2005 he sang a concert of Mexican and Spanish music with the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
In August 2008 he sang the Tenor Solo in the Verdi Requiem with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Kent Nagano.
Mr. Chacón-Cruz has received many awards, including first place and audience choice award at the 2003 Eleanor McCollum Competition in Houston Grand Opera, winner of New England Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and he was also a winner of Operalia 2005 among many other important international distinctions.
He currently makes his home in Boston, with his wife Venetia.
REVIEWS
Die Presse (Vienna, Austria)
"...Arturo Chacón-Cruz als Rodolfo mit strahlenden Höhen, virilem Timbre und risikofreudiger Attacke, man fühlt sich frappierend an die Stimme und die vokale Angriffslust des jungen Franco Corelli erinnert! "
...(Young Arturo Chacon Cruz, He impresses as Rodolfo with brilliant tops, a virile timbre, a risk taking attack…one feels struck by the the voice and vocal timbre that reminds one of the young Franco Corelli….)
The Washington Times said about his Alfredo in La Traviata with Washington National Opera
"As Alfredo, Mr. Chacon-Cruz is in many ways Violetta's polar opposite. His passion can (and does) morph into hotheaded jealousy almost without warning. His clarion tone and piercingly clean top notes accentuated the impetuosity of his character."
Micaele Sparacino from Concertonet.com Online Music Network said about his Alfredo in La Traviata Simulcast of WNO.
"As [Violetta's] young lover, Alfredo Germont, Arturo Chacón-Cruz proved to be another inspiration in casting. He was ardent and intense in his portrayal and his singing was mellifluous and secure. His vocal delivery in the duets was beautifully balanced with Ms. Futral. His best singing occurred with the inclusion of the oft-deleted cabaletta, “O mio rimorso” which follows the Act II aria, “Dei miei bollenti spiriti.” He displayed abundant strength and security is this aria, rising to a brilliantly sustained high C on the final note. The fact that he is also young and quite handsome only intensified the great impact he made throughout the evening."
Janelle Gelfand from Cincinnati.com wrote about his Arcadio in Florencia en el Amazonas in Cincinnati.
"A superb young cast, most of whom were making company debuts, populated the El Dorado...The impressive voices continued with Mexican-born singer Arturo Chacón-Cruz, whose exciting tenor and presence served him well as Arcadio, the captain’s nephew."
(http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/ENT03/307110034/1025/ENT)
The Detroit Free Press (Mark Stryker) wrote about his Alfredo in Verdi's "La Traviata"
"Tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz made a strong impression as Alfredo, singing with an elegant tone, relaxed high notes and sweet legato phrasing."
Opernnetz
Said about his Rodolfo in La Boheme in Berlin State Opera:
"Mit Arturo Chacon-Cruz agiert ein ambivalent spontan unverantwortlicher und erschütterungsfähiger Rodolfo – und gibt diesen Gefühlen grandiose Stimme: ein Tenor von stupender Selbstverständlichkeit, mit faszinierendem Legato, mit einer enorm ausdrucksfähigen Mittellage und strahlend-ausdrucksvollen Höhen. Sensationell"
http://www.opernnetz.de/seiten/rezensionen/ber_UdLboh.htm
Gene Warech from the Laguna Beach Independent said about his Rodolfo in La Boheme with Opera Pacific:
"Arturo Chacón-Cruz produces a very large tenor voice, and doesn't he just know it. Such a voice guarantees a bright future as a star singer. When modulated, it can embrace tenderness and sadness and even artistry."
Michele Fizaine from Le Midi Libre, in France, wrote about his Marcello di Bruges in Il Duca d'Alba:
"Arturo Chacon-Cruz est un tenor beni des dieux, qui exprime la jeunesse, la vigueur avec des inflexions qui touchent. Sa partie est tendue, les aigus sont superbes. Le public l'ovationne. Il a 29 ans, il va voler au soleil ses rayons."
Philip Kennicott from the Washington Post said about his Pinkerton with Washington National Opera:
"Lead tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz, is a star worth watching, a singer with a firmly supported lyrical voice, a lovely legato and the ability to sound effortless."
Kate Wingfield from Metro Weekly Washington said about his Pinkerton with Washington National Opera:
"Tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz sings a strong, well-rounded Pinkerton, giving more than enough dimension to his character to maintain his emotional presence even after he has sailed away. Chacon-Cruz has an interesting charisma, simultaneously boyish and rather serious as he delivers some quite wonderful high notes. "
Richard Dyer from The Boston Globe said about his Idomeneo:
"In the title role, tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz flaunted both personal and vocal charisma. He boasts a handsome and sympathetic stage presence… He does sing Italian with imagination and authority, and the voice itself is irresistibly dark in color and warm in timbre… His talent is already unmistakable".
The Houston Press said about his Pinkerton with Houston Grand Opera:
"Mexican tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz as the cad Pinkerton, who sublimely sailed through Puccini's treacherous vocal reefs whereon many others have bellowed and floundered"
Charles Ward of The Houston Chronicle said about his Pinkerton with Houston Grand Opera:
"tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz made sure we didn't miss the sob-wracked guilt of the cad Pinkerton...Chacón-Cruz sang with passion, good strength in his high notes and appealing tone"
Matthew Erickson, from the Hartford Courant said about his Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with the Connecticut Opera:
"Lyric tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz played Rinuccio, the only likable family member of the bunch, made more enjoyable by the clarion high notes and lithe phrasing in his aria. "
Jay Wamsley, from the Utah Statesman wrote about his Rodolfo in the summer of 2006 "La Boheme":
"Arturo Chacón-Cruz, according to pre-production notes, returned to the Utah Festival Opera Company this summer especially for the role of Rodolfo in "La Boheme." Be thankful he did. Described as a "premier young tenor who is making a splash on the international opera scene," Chacón-Cruz certainly made a splash in Logan opening night.
He nearly got a standing ovation at the end of his first solo. He certainly did at the opera's conclusion.
His true tenor never wavered and had an earnest quality that patrons never tired of listening to."
Christy Karras, from the Salt Lake Tribune wrote about his portrayal of Rodolfo in "La Boheme":
"Far and away the best thing about this production is Arturo Chacón-Cruz, whose rich but uncomplicated tenor makes him the perfect Rodolfo. He played the part on Wednesday with confidence and pitch-perfect delivery"
Tim Page from The Washington Post said about his October 14th Concert with Maestro Domingo at the Kennedy Center:
"Arturo Chacón-Cruz, a tenor from Mexico, was impressive...The voice is a beautiful one, shot through with sun and poetry"
Spanish news LA VANGUARDIA wrote about his Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac in Valencia.
(Roger Alier)
"We must point out the good work done by Rod Gilfry as De Guiche,and Lyric tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz(Christian), who was very convincing and handled his part very well."
Die Presse (Vienna, Austria)
"...Arturo Chacón-Cruz als Rodolfo mit strahlenden Höhen, virilem Timbre und risikofreudiger Attacke, man fühlt sich frappierend an die Stimme und die vokale Angriffslust des jungen Franco Corelli erinnert! "
...(Young Arturo Chacon Cruz, He impresses as Rodolfo with brilliant tops, a virile timbre, a risk taking attack…one feels struck by the the voice and vocal timbre that reminds one of the young Franco Corelli….)
The Washington Times said about his Alfredo in La Traviata with Washington National Opera
"As Alfredo, Mr. Chacon-Cruz is in many ways Violetta's polar opposite. His passion can (and does) morph into hotheaded jealousy almost without warning. His clarion tone and piercingly clean top notes accentuated the impetuosity of his character."
Micaele Sparacino from Concertonet.com Online Music Network said about his Alfredo in La Traviata Simulcast of WNO.
"As [Violetta's] young lover, Alfredo Germont, Arturo Chacón-Cruz proved to be another inspiration in casting. He was ardent and intense in his portrayal and his singing was mellifluous and secure. His vocal delivery in the duets was beautifully balanced with Ms. Futral. His best singing occurred with the inclusion of the oft-deleted cabaletta, “O mio rimorso” which follows the Act II aria, “Dei miei bollenti spiriti.” He displayed abundant strength and security is this aria, rising to a brilliantly sustained high C on the final note. The fact that he is also young and quite handsome only intensified the great impact he made throughout the evening."
Janelle Gelfand from Cincinnati.com wrote about his Arcadio in Florencia en el Amazonas in Cincinnati.
"A superb young cast, most of whom were making company debuts, populated the El Dorado...The impressive voices continued with Mexican-born singer Arturo Chacón-Cruz, whose exciting tenor and presence served him well as Arcadio, the captain’s nephew."
(http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/ENT03/307110034/1025/ENT)
The Detroit Free Press (Mark Stryker) wrote about his Alfredo in Verdi's "La Traviata"
"Tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz made a strong impression as Alfredo, singing with an elegant tone, relaxed high notes and sweet legato phrasing."
Opernnetz
Said about his Rodolfo in La Boheme in Berlin State Opera:
"Mit Arturo Chacon-Cruz agiert ein ambivalent spontan unverantwortlicher und erschütterungsfähiger Rodolfo – und gibt diesen Gefühlen grandiose Stimme: ein Tenor von stupender Selbstverständlichkeit, mit faszinierendem Legato, mit einer enorm ausdrucksfähigen Mittellage und strahlend-ausdrucksvollen Höhen. Sensationell"
http://www.opernnetz.de/seiten/rezensionen/ber_UdLboh.htm
Gene Warech from the Laguna Beach Independent said about his Rodolfo in La Boheme with Opera Pacific:
"Arturo Chacón-Cruz produces a very large tenor voice, and doesn't he just know it. Such a voice guarantees a bright future as a star singer. When modulated, it can embrace tenderness and sadness and even artistry."
Michele Fizaine from Le Midi Libre, in France, wrote about his Marcello di Bruges in Il Duca d'Alba:
"Arturo Chacon-Cruz est un tenor beni des dieux, qui exprime la jeunesse, la vigueur avec des inflexions qui touchent. Sa partie est tendue, les aigus sont superbes. Le public l'ovationne. Il a 29 ans, il va voler au soleil ses rayons."
Philip Kennicott from the Washington Post said about his Pinkerton with Washington National Opera:
"Lead tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz, is a star worth watching, a singer with a firmly supported lyrical voice, a lovely legato and the ability to sound effortless."
Kate Wingfield from Metro Weekly Washington said about his Pinkerton with Washington National Opera:
"Tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz sings a strong, well-rounded Pinkerton, giving more than enough dimension to his character to maintain his emotional presence even after he has sailed away. Chacon-Cruz has an interesting charisma, simultaneously boyish and rather serious as he delivers some quite wonderful high notes. "
Richard Dyer from The Boston Globe said about his Idomeneo:
"In the title role, tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz flaunted both personal and vocal charisma. He boasts a handsome and sympathetic stage presence… He does sing Italian with imagination and authority, and the voice itself is irresistibly dark in color and warm in timbre… His talent is already unmistakable".
The Houston Press said about his Pinkerton with Houston Grand Opera:
"Mexican tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz as the cad Pinkerton, who sublimely sailed through Puccini's treacherous vocal reefs whereon many others have bellowed and floundered"
Charles Ward of The Houston Chronicle said about his Pinkerton with Houston Grand Opera:
"tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz made sure we didn't miss the sob-wracked guilt of the cad Pinkerton...Chacón-Cruz sang with passion, good strength in his high notes and appealing tone"
Matthew Erickson, from the Hartford Courant said about his Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with the Connecticut Opera:
"Lyric tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz played Rinuccio, the only likable family member of the bunch, made more enjoyable by the clarion high notes and lithe phrasing in his aria. "
Jay Wamsley, from the Utah Statesman wrote about his Rodolfo in the summer of 2006 "La Boheme":
"Arturo Chacón-Cruz, according to pre-production notes, returned to the Utah Festival Opera Company this summer especially for the role of Rodolfo in "La Boheme." Be thankful he did. Described as a "premier young tenor who is making a splash on the international opera scene," Chacón-Cruz certainly made a splash in Logan opening night.
He nearly got a standing ovation at the end of his first solo. He certainly did at the opera's conclusion.
His true tenor never wavered and had an earnest quality that patrons never tired of listening to."
Christy Karras, from the Salt Lake Tribune wrote about his portrayal of Rodolfo in "La Boheme":
"Far and away the best thing about this production is Arturo Chacón-Cruz, whose rich but uncomplicated tenor makes him the perfect Rodolfo. He played the part on Wednesday with confidence and pitch-perfect delivery"
Tim Page from The Washington Post said about his October 14th Concert with Maestro Domingo at the Kennedy Center:
"Arturo Chacón-Cruz, a tenor from Mexico, was impressive...The voice is a beautiful one, shot through with sun and poetry"
Spanish news LA VANGUARDIA wrote about his Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac in Valencia.
(Roger Alier)
"We must point out the good work done by Rod Gilfry as De Guiche,and Lyric tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz(Christian), who was very convincing and handled his part very well."
