In June 1997 José Cura received the Italian Music Critics' Abbiati award in Italy for the category of male singer for his performances in Mascagni's Iris in Rome, the same composer's Cavalleria Rusticana in Ravenna, and Verdi's Il Corsaro in Turin.

Iris, Rome, January 1996:  ‘In summary, the sights and sounds and the emphasis on imagination married with an understanding that rarely occurs:  in my own case, the Iris by Hugo de Ana will remain one of the most important events in my lifetime.  And there was the personality of José Cura, with a sometimes unevenness of tone but with the rare and solid timbre of a lyric tenor.’ Corriere della Sera,  11 January 1996 Iris,  Rome, January 1996:  ‘The experienced Daniela Dessi and José Cura, the Argentine tenor with the inherent limitation of his young age but who already displays the color and style of spinto singing that hasn’t been heard in quite some time, are excellent as Iris and Osaka, two roles which are by no means easy.’ El Pais, 25 January 1966   Iris, Rome, January 1996: “José Cura (Osaka) was a lyric tenor with a raw timbre, but some wobbly intonations. The seven performances were all sold out and the applause was unstoppable both during the acts and at the end.” Opera, May 1996   Iris CD, recorded Rome Opera January 1996; released March 1998: ‘The role of Osaka, the wealthy nobleman at whose behest Iris is kidnapped but who is soon bored by her childish innocence, must be frustrating for an intelligent tenor: it is shortish, with very little room to suggest subtlety of character. Cura responds with warm, robust tone...but also demonstrating that he has a lovely mezza voce available for any role that might need it rather more than this one does.... this recording convincingly demonstrates that Cura is a singer of exceptional quality and even greater promise.  At least a couple of recordings with the incomparable Magda Olivero in the title role have been intermittently available, but none of them has a tenor of Cura’s standard'  Gramophone Magazine, March 1998 Iris CD, recorded Rome Opera January 1996; released March 1998: 'Cura is excellent and right inside the part, with his vivid enunciation and brilliant 'open' timbre.'  Opera,  1999 Iris CD, recorded Rome Opera January 1996; released March 1998:  ‘José Cura manages to find some sympathy in Osaka while creating a ringing characterization.’  Classical Music: The Listener’s Companion, 2002