Awards and Honors

Bravo Cura

Celebrating José Cura--Singer, Conductor, Director

Awards and Honors

Congratulations on Enescu Nomination

The shortlist for The International Opera Awards have just been announced and George Enescu Festival 2021 is among the nominees.

At the 2021 edition of the Festival, under Vladimir Jurowski – Artistic Director, and Mihai Constantinescu – Executive Director, all the operas in concert performed in the Festival were showcased in premiere in Romania, with multimedia projections, performed by some of the most renowned artists and orchestra’s in the world! The multimedia projections were designed by directors such as Carmen Lidia Vidu or Nona Ciobanu.

Te Deum, composed by the famous tenor, composer and director José Cura had its worldwide premiere in the Festival and marked the 25th anniversary in the event's history.

Once again, the values in which George Enescu believed, the constancy, the strategic support, the artistic involvement and you, the public, are keeping the Festival at the top level of cultural events organized by Romania.

Lazlo Biro Award

Lazlo Biro was a Hungarian-Argentine inventor, who patented the first commercially successful modern ballpoint pen. The Lazlo Biro Award is given to individuals who have worked to build a bridge between the Hungarian and Argentine communities. José Cura is the first Argentinean to win the award.

Note: This is a machine-based translation.

José Cura uses language with precision and purpose; the computer does not.

We offer it only a a general guide to the conversation and the ideas exchanged but the following should not be considered definitive.

José Cura: I feel God close to me

Lokál

Erika Bodnár

[Excerpts]

José Cura sang the main role of Puccini’s Turandot at the Margaret Island Outdoor Stage last week. The rain after rehearsals made it harder to talk about his presence in Hungary, talent and the faith of God.

You once said you prayed your artistic mission would bring peace to everyone. Do you feel close to God?

It depends on what you mean by God. If you mean institutionalized religion at this time, the Church is not so much. But if you are talking about the relationship between God and myself, I can say yes to God.

Some say the artist mediates between the superior and the audience.

Yes, like a medium. But it's not just the artists' own, because this flower, this wonderful rose, or the sun, a tree, mediates between humans and God. This is a very simple question and it doesn't have to be more complicated than it is: every living creature speaks about the presence of God. Anyone who thinks of himself as an artist has a problem with his ego.

When you were eight years old, your teacher thought you weren’t going to be able to deal with music. Why?

Because he thought I was too young for the life that classical music requires. She was very wise to suggest that I do something different, and that was quite right because I had to be a child then and not sit next to the piano. Among other things, I owe this advice to the person I am now. I stumbled, I played like others, so I had a wonderful childhood, and now I'm sitting here as a musician.

You are often referred to as the fourth tenor. What do you think about this title?

This is just a loud name in the press, born in the nineties when my career began. At that time, the Three Tenor was extremely popular and I was one of the first members of the new generation but for at least thirty years. Pavarotti died, Domingo is singing baritone, and I'm just a tenor singer who is maximalist in his work, and - as we are lucky – we have many other wonderful singers.

Do you remember the first invitation you received in Europe?

The first was in Genoa, in July 1991, at an open-air concert, if I'm not mistaken, on the twenty-fifth. It was a very special day, like when your first child is born, you don't forget his birthday! I was only 28 years old, agitating and emotional to think back then.

What is your relationship with your country? Was it important for you to be recognized in Argentina?

I have been living in Europe for thirty years, of which I spent twenty in Spain. When we're young, we think we have to prove ourselves. But by this age, you just do your job and your actions speak for themselves. It’s no longer important to prove yourself, and this knowledge comes with time. I like Argentina the same way as when I was born, nothing changed. The country, its citizens, my friends feel the same, proud Argentines. I'd like to be in my home country more often than I am now but I only go there if I am invited. I have no free access to Argentina.

What do you do in Budapest when you're not working?

I always work, at least I can't recall a moment when I have had time. I have no idea what I would do in Budapest if I didn't have to work. Look, today is my day off and now I'm sitting with you!

In addition to the award, a reception was held at the Argentine Ambassador’s residence in Budapest under the auspices of his Excellency Maximiliano Gregorio-Cernadas and his wife, Cecilia Scalisi, in honor of Cura. The guest of honor had to sing for his supper (as they say) and offered Guastavino with piano accompaniment—his voice ‘was a delight for the distinguished guests.’ After that was a garden party with an Argentine meat tasting, empanadas and the famous Malbec wine. The organization of the event was magnificent and Cura’s interaction with the guests a resounding success.’

Schedule For the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition 2019

The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition kicks off on Saturday, June 15, 2019.

The big opera competition, which takes place every two years, will initiate with a conversation between Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Frederica Von Stade at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Dance. The program starts at 11 a.m. local time.

A few hours later, the competition’s first round will kick off with the Song Prize. The contestants in that round of performances will include mezzo Katie Bray, bass Patrick Guetti, mezzo Guadalupe Barrientos, soprano Camila Titinger, and baritone Leonardo Lee. That event starts at 2:30 p.m. local time.

The second round of the song prize continues later that evening at 7:30 p.m. with performances by baritone Jorge Espino, mezzo Yulia Mennibaeva, tenor Luis Gomes, mezzo Angharad Lyddon, and tenor Owen Metsileng.

The third round of the song prize continues on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. The performers on that day include baritone Andrii Kymach, mezzo Lena Belkina, soprano Sooyeon Lee, soprano Adriana Gonzalez, and tenor Roman Arndt

The fourth round of the song prize is set for Monday, June 17, 2019, also at 2: 30 p.m. local time. Tenor Mingjie Lei, soprano Lauren Fagan, baritone Julien Van Mellaerts, mezzo Karina Kherunts, and bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba will compete.

The Song Prize Final is set for Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 7 p.m. local time.

Main Prize Schedule

The main competition kicks off on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 7 p.m. local time at St. David’s Hall. The performers, all competing in the Song Prize and main competition, will be Van Mellaerts, Kherunts, Lei, Fagan, and Ollarsaba.

The next day, audiences will check out the second round at the same time and venue. This time the performers will be Titinger, Lee, Lyddon, Guetti, and Belkina.

The third day of the main event will feature Barrientos, Metsileng, Bray, Kymach, and Mennibaeva. That will take place on Tuesday at St. David’s Hall at 7 p.m. local time.

The fourth day of the main prize is set for Wednesday and will showcase the talents of Gomes, Sooyeo Lee, Ardnt, Gonzalez, and Espino.

The grand finale for the Main Prize is set for Saturday, June 22 at 7 p.m. local time.

There will be a series of masterclasses throughout the competition with such opera legends as Dame Felicity Lott, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Frederica Von Stade, José Cura, David Pountney, Robert Holl, and Malcolm Martineau.

BBC Cardiff Master Class

May 2019

International Competition of Lyrical Canto "Vittorio Terranova

On the anniversary of 50 years in the profession....

Member of the Jury

March 2019

Note: BBC Cardiff Singer of the World runs from 15-22 June 2019, and will be streamed live online, and broadcast on BBC TV and radio.

Competitors announced for this year's BBC Cardiff Singer of the World

Previous winners of the competition include Jamie Barton, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Catriona Morison

BBC Magazine

4 March 2019

Freya Parr

20 singers have been selected to compete in the 2019 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Now in its 36th year, the biennial competition will see ten men and ten women from 15 countries fight it out to win the £20,000 main cash prize and a concert recital at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall.

It is not only the main award and title of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World that participants are competing for. The Song Prize finalists are also offered debut concert recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall, with the winner receiving £10,000. The Audience Prize is also up for grabs, with the public voting for their favourite in the concert hall, online and by phone. This award is dedicated to the late baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, the former Cardiff Singer of the World winner who died in 2017.

BBC Cardiff Singer has not just been responsible for helping launch the career of Hvorostovsky. Other former winners to have gone on to great things include the Finnish soprano Karita Mattila and, more recently, US mezzo Jamie Barton. Those who came close but didn't actually take home the winner's trophy, meanwhile, include Bryn Terfel, who lost out to Hvorostovsky in 1989.

The main competition sees singers perform in four rounds, judged by a panel including opera director David Poutney and Grange Park Opera founder Wasfi Kani, alongside singers tenor/baritone [sic] José Cura, soprano Felicity Lott and mezzo Frederica von Stade. The performances take place in Cardiff’s St David’s Hall, accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, under the baton of Ewa Strusińska, as well as the Welsh National Opera Orchestra with Ariane Matiakh.

‘This year we’re offering live TV broadcasting and streaming for the first time, increased prize money and career-enhancing recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall and Southbank Centre’, says David Jackson, artistic director of the competition.

Congratulations to José Cura on his latest Recognition

José Cura, Honorary Professor and Lecture

The National University of Rosario will award the title of 'Honorary Professor' to Maestro José Cura. The Ceremony will be held on Thursday November 16 at 11:45 in the ECU-University Cultural Space - San Martin 750. The same day Thursday November 16 at 19 in the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts of the UNR - Entre Rios 758, the opera singer, composer and director José Cura will offer a talk with the title: "Be yourself: intellectual honesty may not pay in the short term, but it leaves its mark in history". It is a meeting with the students of the School of Music and to which the general public can also attend. The teacher Cura waits for them to exchange opinions, to ask questions, to chat. (computer generated translation)

On Thursday, November 16 - hour 11:30 - in the ECU - University Cultural Space - San Martín 750

The National University of Rosario will award the title of Honorary Professor to Maestro José Cura in a ceremony to which all are invited.

The later talk with students is also open. Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts of the UNR- Entre Ríos 758. Topic: "Be yourself: intellectual honesty may not pay in the short term, but it leaves its mark in history". (computer generated translation)

José Cura will receive the title of Honorary Professor

Cura is world-renowned as one of the most important artists of this time.

The National University of Rosario (UNR) will award the title of Honorary Professor to Maestro José Cura. The Ceremony will take place on Thursday, November 16 at 11:45 in the University Cultural Space (ECU), San Martín 750.

The same day at 7:00 pm, in the Hall of Acts of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts of the UNR, Entre Ríos 758, the opera singer, composer and director José Cura will give a talk with the title: "Be yourself: Intellectual honesty may not pay off in the short term, but it leaves its mark in history. "

It is a meeting with the students of the School of Music and to which the general public can also attend; a space to exchange opinions, ask questions, and chat.

Note: This is a machine-based translation. We offer it only a a general guide but it should not be considered definitive.

Distinguished as "Honorary Professor" -- José Cura

The opera singer, composer and director, José Cura, received the title of "Honorary Professor" from the National University of Rosario (UNR) at the proposal of the School of Music of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts.

The ceremony was held in the ECU (University Cultural Space) and culminated with a talk by Cura entitled "Be yourself: intellectual honesty may not pay in the short term, but it leaves its mark in history".
The Maestro studied guitar, composition, piano, orchestra conducting and singing. He has a prolific career in Rosario, Buenos Aires and Europe, where he achieved world fame having worked with some of the largest orchestras in the world, such as the London Philharmonia, London Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, Warsaw Sinfonia, Toscanini Orchestra, among others.
Note: This is a machine-based translation. We offer it only a a general guide but it should not be considered definitive.

The Rector Héctor Floriani granted the appointment of Honorary Professor to Maestro José Luis Cura, in an act celebrated in the University Cultural Space (ECU).

The distinction was proposed by the Board of Directors of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, the dean of the Faculty, José Goity, referred to the importance of the figure of José Cura, which he considers one of the main and most outstanding representatives of our country in the world. He also highlighted the development of Cura at the National University of Rosario, which he considered as an affirmation of the public university as a model of education.

The new Honorary Professor was thankful for the recognition that he took as a great commitment to the institution. Cura took advantage of the act to recognize the teachers who accompanied him in his musical training and as a person. "Those who prosecuted him without killing his talent and passion."

José Luis Cura, was born in Rosario on December 5, 1962, and began his musical studies learning guitar with Juan di Lorenzo. At age 15 he made his debut as a choral director. The following year, he began to study composition with Carlos Castro, and piano with Zulma Cabrera.

In 1982, he began studying at the Art School of the UNR, the following year he was assistant director of the choir of the institution. At age 21, he won a scholarship to study at the art school of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. There he works for several years in the Choir, while studying composition and direction at the same time.

In 1991, José Cura settled in Europe, where he met the tenor Vittorio Terranova, under whose teachings he acquired his mastery in Italian opera style.
In the afternoon, Maestro Cura gave a talk for students of the School of Music of the UNR.
Note: This is a machine-based translation. We offer it only a a general guide but it should not be considered definitive.

Award - La Fundació del

Bàsquet Català

José Cura, 30 January 2016

Congratulations!

I am proudly sharing with you the prize just received from the Catalan Basket Federation: the highest honor this association gives to a personality that has been part of their crusade to make sports part of everyday's life, working not only with remarkable professionals like the Gasol brothers, but also, and mainly, being active part in educating the youth.

THANKS A LOT TO THE FCBQ!!!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php…

2015

The Nation’s Senate Distinguishes Tenor José Cura

In his own words: Maestro José Cura provides his comments:

MANY ASKED ME TO POST THE TRANSLATION OF MY "FULL SPEECH" IN THE ARGENTINEAN SENATE. SO HERE I GO, IN A QUICK ENGLISH VERSION. HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND MY WORDS.

Everybody talks about me as being a rebel. I am not a rebel but yes someone argumentative who does not take a "It has to be like this" for an answer before searching further. Yes, I am argumentative, but loyal, which is what counts.

No one is a prophet in his own land. I love that saying. Do you know why? Because it is a two-sided phrase: It serves the one rejected to justify his failure and it also serves those who have rejected him to justify their disdain… It’s a brilliant line. Jesus gave it to us and it useful for everything...

When I left in 1991, as with all those who are forced to go away, I left very angry. “Nobody is a prophet in his own land” I repeatedly said to myself, trying to self-motivate my exodus. But the truth is that when I left in 1991, not only I was not a prophet in my own land: I was a prophet nowhere. And my people, for much that I needed a motivation, was not responsible of that!

I didn’t understand this until much later.

When I came back in 1999 I did it with a thirst for vengeance. I felt I was a prophet to the entire world except on my own soil, so I thought “Now they’ll hear me". And I committed the greatest mistake of my life: revenge.

I was wrong. I apologize.

This Honor received today is the proof of that mistake of mine because now that I am, for experience and maturity, someone deserving to be heard, my people recognize it openly and with proud. Thanks a lot!

José

José Cura Visits the Argentine Minister of Culture

Jose Cura Recognition by

Escula Superior de Educación Artística en Música "Juan Pedro Esnaola"

Buenos Aires

Kammersanger 2010

Vienna

Note: This is a machine-based translation. We offer it only a a general guide but it should not be considered definitive.

José Cura Receives the Prestigious Kammersänger

The Vienna Opera distinguishes the Argentinean tenor for his outstanding career and his intense relationship with the opera theater in the Austrian capital

EFE | El Universal

02 December 2010

The Vienna Opera today gave the Argentinean tenor José Cura the prestigious title "Kammersänger" from Austria in recognition of his outstanding career and his intense relationship with the theater.

In a ceremony in the Tea Room of the Vienna Opera, the Austrian Minister of Education, Art and Culture, Claudia Schmied, presented the title to Cura, on behalf of the President of Austria, Heinz Fischer.

The literal translation of "Kammersänger" is "chamber singer," but in this case it is an appointment considered one of the most prestigious awards in the world of singing, which in the past was awarded by the Emperor of the Habsburg Court himself.

"I don't think it can be translated. In Austria it is more a title linked to old Court traditions. Today, it is administratively anachronistic. It is a beautiful title," Cura said.

The tenor, who will turn 48 next Sunday, was especially pleased to be honored with such a title, considering it recognition for his hard work here.

"Not only am I proud to have it, but they are proud to bestow it, which makes it very nice as well. It is not an obligatory thing. After 15 years of working together, of growing up inside this theater, it is a beautiful recognition," he added.

At the award ceremony, the new Opera director, the Frenchman Dominique Meyer, praised the "wonderful" career of the Argentine singer, of which his performance as Otello, the protagonist of the homonymous opera by Giuseppe Verdi, especially stood out.

"On the centenary of Verdi's death (January 27, 2001), everyone loved him (Cura), but he decided to come to Vienna. The Vienna Opera has not forgotten," he said.

"And after that date, I think he was the singer with the highest number of incarnations of Otello," continued the director, for whom there are "few" tenors capable of performing Otello so many times and with such high quality, adding that the public Viennese hopes to see Cura again playing that "inhuman" role.

The director of the opera theater recalled that this tenor was the first to win the prize in the Operalia contest and "very soon after he was singing all over the world: Chicago, Paris, London, La Scala (Milan) and, of course, Vienna."

In the Austrian capital he made his debut in 1996 and tonight he will have his 92nd performance (performing as "Chevalier René Des Grieux" in Giacomo Puccini's Manon Lescaut).

"We hope it continues," insisted Meyer, who was pleased that Cura will celebrate his next birthday "here, on our stage."

For his part, Cura stated that his 15 years of work with the opera staff have made him a "better artist" and also highlighted the relationship with the Viennese audience, of which he became a "favorite" with his first performance.

The tenor thus went on to join the list of outstanding artists honored with the "Kammersänger," which includes such singers such as Alfredo Kraus, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Monteserrat Caballé, Carlos Álvarez and Jaume [Giacomo] Aragall, among others.