Edgardo Rocha is one of today’s foremost interpreters of bel canto repertoire, praised for his warm timbre, lively coloratura, and brilliant high notes. Since making his European debut in the title role of Gianni di Parigi by Donizetti at the Festival della Valle d’Itria di Martina Franca, the tenor is a frequent guest in the world’s leading opera houses and festivals, which include Opernhaus Zürich, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Bayerische Staatsoper, Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival.
In the 2025/26 season, the tenor makes a remarkable role debut as Nemorino, first at Stadttheater Gießen and later at the Vienna State Opera in Otto Schenk’s celebrated production of L’elisir D’amore.
Edgardo Rocha is one of today’s foremost interpreters of bel canto repertoire, praised for his warm timbre, lively coloratura, and brilliant high notes. Since making his European debut in the title role of Gianni di Parigi by Donizetti at the Festival della Valle d’Itria di Martina Franca, the tenor is a frequent guest in the world’s leading opera houses and festivals, which include Opernhaus Zürich, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Bayerische Staatsoper, Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival.
In the 2025/26 season, the tenor makes a remarkable role debut as Nemorino, first at Stadttheater Gießen and later at the Vienna State Opera in Otto Schenk’s celebrated production of L’elisir D’amore.
On the concert stage the tenor makes his highly anticipated debut with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor under the baton of Thomas Søndergård.
Recent highlights include his debut as Florestano in Paër’s rarely performed Leonora at the Chicago Opera Theater, in the first fully staged production using the Bärenreiter edition under Dame Jane Glover and Lawrence Edelson, as well as the title role in La clemenza di Tito — first at Salzburg’s Mozartwoche in a staging by Rolando Villazón, and later with the Washington Concert Opera under Antony Walker.
Two roles have become cornerstones of the tenor’s repertoire: Don Ramiro in La cenerentola and Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Rocha has sung Don Ramiro notably at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Vienna State Opera, Seattle Opera, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, among others. A highlight of his career was a world tour of La cenerentola with mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Rossini’s masterpiece. As Almaviva, Rocha has appeared at many of the world’s major theaters, including the Vienna State Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Teatro Real Madrid, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Bayerische Staatsoper, Semperoper Dresden, Opernhaus Zürich, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, the Salzburg Festival and on tour through Switzerland with Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
A frequent guest at the Vienna State Opera, Rocha has performed Don Ottavio in Barrie Kosky’s new Don Giovanni, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri as well as the signature roles Almaviva and Don Ramiro. His portrayal of Don Ottavio also took him to the Opéra de Monte-Carlo during the Mozart à Monaco festival. With the company he additionally debuted as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi.
At the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Rocha has been a central figure in Donizetti’s Tudor Trilogy, debuting the title role in Roberto Devereux and reprising Percy in Anna Bolena and Robert Dudley in Maria Stuarda. His Donizetti repertoire elsewhere includes Ernesto in Don Pasquale at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, and the Verona Philharmonic Theater; Riccardo Percy in the original 1830 version of Anna Bolena at the Opéra de Lausanne; and the title role in Gianni di Parigi at the Wexford Festival Opera.
With Opernhaus Zürich, Rocha has sung many leading bel canto roles, including Lindoro (L’italiana in Algeri), Gérald (Lakmé), the title role in Le comte Ory, Belfiore (Il viaggio a Reims), Don Narciso (Il turco in Italia), and Almaviva.
Further highlights include his performances as Don Narciso at the Teatro alla Scala, Teatro Regio di Torino, and Teatro Real Madrid; as Belfiore at the Semperoper Dresden and the Bolshoi Theatre; as Giacomo V in La donna del lago at the Salzburg Pfingstfestspiele and the Opéra de Marseille; and as Lindoro at the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Salzburg Festival.
Among his other bel canto successes are Elvino in La sonnambula, sung at the Opéra de Nice Côte d’Azur and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, as well as Arturo in I Puritani at the Stuttgart Opernhaus.
Rocha’s versatility has also led him into French repertoire, with roles including Nadir in Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles at the Opéra de Nancy, Gérald in Delibes’s Lakmé at Opernhaus Zürich, Lyonel in Halévy’s L’éclair at Grand Théâtre de Genève and Leopold in Halévy’s La Juive at the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Born in Rivera, Uruguay and educated in piano, choral and orchestra conducting at the Montevideo University School of Music, he studied singing with Alba Tonelli, Beatriz Pazos and Raquel Pierotti. After moving to Italy in 2008, he continued his studies with the tenor Salvatore Fisichella and the Rossini tenor Rockwell Blake. Edgardo won numerous international vocal competitions, including 51º Concurso de Juventudes musicales del Uruguay, Giulio Neri in Siena and Primo Palcoscenico in Cesena.
© CSAM, August 2025
