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.
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.
Several important debuts mark Edgardo Rocha’s 2023/24 season: he sees his first performances with the Los Angeles Opera in his signature role of Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, debuts the role of Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi at Opera Monte Carlo, and during Salzburg’s Mozartwoche he debuts the title role in La Clemenza di Tito, staged by Rolando Villazón and Bettina Geyer. Rocha returns to Opernhaus Zürich as Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri. His season concludes with Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy at Grand Théâtre de Genève: he sings the title role in a new production of Roberto Devereux and reprises his performances of Percy in Anna Bolena and Robert Dudley in Maria Stuarda.
His 2022/23 engagements include the role of Lyonel in Halévy’s L’éclair at Grand Théâtre de Genève, and Elvino (La Sonnambula) at Opera Nice Côte d’Azur and at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. Rocha made two important role debuts as Roberto (Maria Stuarda) at Grand Théâtre de Genève and as Gérald (Lakmé) at Opernhaus Zürich. He returned to Teatro Real de Madrid to perform the role of Don Narciso (Il turco in Italia), was heard as Lord Percy (Anna Bolena) at Grand-Théâtre Genève, sang the title role in Le comte Ory at Opernhaus Zürich, was Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola) for the Bayerische Staatsoper and appeared as Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) at the Salzburger Festspiele.
Throughout Rocha’s career, one of his most eminent roles has been Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola), which he has sung in many leading opera houses including Grand Théâtre de Genève, Vienna State Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera de Monte Carlo, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, among others. In 2017, Rocha took part in a great tournée of La Cenerentola together with the mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the first performance of Rossini’s masterpiece.
Another cornerstone of Rocha’s repertoire is Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He has seen myriad performances of the role, notably at the Vienna State Opera, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Teatro Real in Madrid, Bayerische Staatsoper, Semperoper Dresden, Paris Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli and at the Salzburg Festival.
Edgardo Rocha has recently appeared as Lindoro (L’italiana in Algeri) at the Vienna State Opera, Gran Teatro di Liceo and Salzburg Festival; Don Narciso (Il turco in Italia) at the Teatro Regio di Torino, Opernhaus Zürich and Teatro alla Scala; Belfiore (ll viaggio a Reims) at Opernhaus Zürich, Semperoper Dresden and the Bolshoi Theatre; and Giacomo V (La donna del lago) at Salzburg Pfingstfestpiele and Opéra de Marseille.
Donizetti has proven to be an essential composer as well for the tenor – Rocha has been heard in the role of Ernesto (Don Pasquale) at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and the Verona Philharmonic Theater; the title role in Gianni di Parigi at the Wexford Opera Festival; and Riccardo Percy (Anna Bolena) in its original version from 1830 at the Opéra de Lausanne.
Among other highlights of Edgardo Rocha’s career are the roles of Ferrando (Così fan tutte) at the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli and Teatro Regio di Torino, Nadir (Les pêcheurs des perles) at Opera de Nancy, Arturo (I Puritani) at the Stuttgart Opernhaus and Leopold in Halevy’s La Juive at the Bayerische Staatsoper alongside Roberto Alagna.
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, April 2024
