{"id":284,"date":"2020-05-12T15:31:46","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T13:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/?p=284"},"modified":"2025-11-06T11:08:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:08:37","slug":"rolando-villazon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/artists\/tenor\/rolando-villazon\/","title":{"rendered":"Rolando Villaz\u00f3n"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Through his uniquely compelling performances, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n has firmly established himself as one of the music world\u2019s most critically acclaimed and beloved stars and as one of the leading artistic voices of our day. He is heralded as \u201cthe most charming of today\u2019s divos\u201d (<em>The Times<\/em><em>)<\/em> with \u201ca wonderfully virile voice\u2026grandezza, elegance and power\u201d <em>(S\u00fcddeutsche Zeitung). <\/em>In his third decade as a performer, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n\u2019s versatility remains peerless. In addition to operatic superstardom, he maintains successful careers as a stage director, novelist, artistic director and TV\/radio personality.<\/p>\n<p>In the 2025-26 season, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n returns to the Vienna State Opera for his house debut as Pell\u00e9as in Marco Arturo Marelli\u2019s production of <strong><em>Pell\u00e9as et M\u00e9lisande,<\/em><\/strong> conducted by Alain Altinoglu. The tenor then takes his portrayal\u00a0of Eisenstein in Johann\u00a0Strauss\u2019 <strong><em>Die Fledermaus<\/em><\/strong> to the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich for performances conducted by Zubin Mehta. A season highlight is his directorial debut at New York\u2019s Metropolitan Opera, staging a new production of <strong><em>La sonnambula<\/em><\/strong><em>. <\/em>Further, Villaz\u00f3n directs new productions of Mozart\u2019s <strong><em>Die Zauberfl\u00f6te<\/em><\/strong> for the Salzburg Mozart Week Festival and Rossini\u2019s <strong><em>L\u2019Italiana in Algeri<\/em><\/strong> in a return to the Deutsche Oper Berlin.<\/p>\n<p>As the Artistic Director of the International Mozarteum Foundation, Villaz\u00f3n continues to curate the programmes for both season concerts and the internationally acclaimed Mozart Week Festival each January in Salzburg.<\/p>\n<p>On the concert stage, Villaz\u00f3n celebrates Mozart\u2019s 270th anniversary with a nine-city European tour alongside PRJCT Amsterdam and Maarten Engeltjes, bringing a programme of beloved Mozart arias to Z\u00fcrich, Vienna, Munich, and Hamburg, among others. The tenor also reunites with lautten compagney BERLIN to present their programme <strong><em>Viaggio dell\u2019anima<\/em><\/strong> in F\u00fcrth, Linz and Iserlohn, among others. Later in the season, Villaz\u00f3n appears with the Kammerakademie Potsdam and Fran\u00e7ois Leleux in his inaugural season as music director and headlines a Zarzuela Gala directed by Christoph Loy at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. A highly sought-after\u00a0recitalist, he can be heard with harpist Xavier di Maistre in M\u00fcnster and Schloss Elmau, and in piano recitals in across Germany.\u00a0Autumn 2025 brings the release of Villaz\u00f3n\u2019s ninth album <strong><em>Orfeo son io<\/em><\/strong>, recorded with ensemble L&#8217;Arpeggiata and Christina Pluhar.<\/p>\n<p>It was as the winner of several prizes at Pl\u00e1cido Domingo\u2019s \u201cOperalia\u201d Competition in 1999 (including the audience award and the Zarzuela prize) that Rolando Villaz\u00f3n first burst onto the international music scene. He made his European debut that same year as Des Grieux in Massenet\u2019s <strong><em>Manon<\/em><\/strong> in Genoa, swiftly followed by further debuts at the Op\u00e9ra de Paris as Alfredo in <strong><em>La traviata<\/em><\/strong> and at the Staatsoper Berlin as Macduff in <strong><em>Macbeth<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Villaz\u00f3n went on to become one of the most sought-after performers of his generation, as highlighted by a string of highly successful debuts with Europe\u2019s leading opera houses such as the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich as Rodolfo in <strong><em>La boh\u00e8me<\/em><\/strong> and the Vienna Staatsoper as Gounod\u2019s <strong><em>Rom\u00e9o<\/em><\/strong>. The tenor has since frequently returned to Vienna for performances as Massenet\u2019s <strong><em>Werther<\/em><\/strong>, Nemorino in <strong><em>L\u2019elisir d\u2019amore<\/em><\/strong>, Des Grieux, the title role in <strong><em>Les contes d\u2019Hoffmann<\/em><\/strong>, the Duke in <strong><em>Rigoletto<\/em><\/strong>, Alfredo in<strong><em> La traviata<\/em><\/strong>, Don Ottavio in <strong><em>Don Giovanni <\/em><\/strong>and Lensky in <strong><em>Eugene Onegin<\/em><\/strong>. Munich audiences have seen Rolando Villaz\u00f3n perform the title role in Gounod\u2019s <strong><em>Faust, <\/em><\/strong>Alfredo, Rom\u00e9o, the title role in a new production of <strong><em>Les contes d\u2019Hoffmann<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>Werther <\/em><\/strong>and Robert F. Scott in the world premiere of Miroslav Srnka\u2019s opera <strong><em>South Pole<\/em><\/strong> with the Bayerische Staatsoper, in addition to concert performances of <strong><em>La boh\u00e8me<\/em><\/strong> at the Gasteig which were recorded by Deutsche Grammophon. At the Deutsche Oper Berlin he was heard in the title role of Verdi\u2019s <strong><em>Don Carlo<\/em><\/strong>. In 2001, he made his debut at the Hamburg Staatsoper as Rodolfo in <strong><em>La boh\u00e8me<\/em><\/strong>. In 2019 he returned to the Hanseatic city as Pell\u00e9as in the Willy Decker production of Debussy&#8217;s <strong><em>Pell\u00e9as et M\u00e9lisande<\/em><\/strong>. In 2023, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n starred in the title role of Monteverdi\u2019s<em> <strong>L\u2019Orfeo<\/strong><\/em> in an acclaimed new production by Nikolaus Habjan at Semperoper Dresden and returned for sold-out revival performances in Dresden in 2024 and at the Mozart Week 2025. Also in 2023, he performed the role of Orfeo in a new production at Bayreuth Baroque Festival.<\/p>\n<p>Rolando Villaz\u00f3n made his Salzburg Festival debut in 2005 with triumphant performances as Alfredo in a new production of <strong><em>La traviata <\/em><\/strong>alongside Anna Netrebko and Thomas Hampson. Deutsche Grammophon released both CD and DVD recordings of the production in 2005. In 2008, he returned for a new production of <strong><em>Rom\u00e9o et Juliette<\/em><\/strong> which was broadcast live on television and recorded by Deutsche Grammophon for DVD release in 2009. In 2012, he made his acclaimed Mozart-debut at the Salzburg Festival, performing Alessandro in <strong><em>Il re pastore<\/em><\/strong>. He returned to Salzburg in 2013 for lauded performances in the title role of a new production of Mozart\u2019s <strong><em>Lucio Silla, <\/em><\/strong>Mozart Matinee-performances conducted by Ivor Bolton in 2014, and was also heard in two sold-out solo recitals. In 2015 he made his acclaimed role debut as Pylade in Gluck\u2019s <strong><em>Iphigenie en Tauride,<\/em><\/strong> and in 2017 he debuted the role of Lurcanio in <strong><em>Ariodante<\/em><\/strong>, both alongside Cecilia Bartoli. At the 2023 Salzburg Whitsun Festival, he added another role debut as Haydn\u2019s Orfeo in <strong><em>L\u2019anima del filosofo <\/em><\/strong>and returned to the 2024 festival to host and perform at a star-studded gala celebrating Pl\u00e1cido Domingo<em>. <\/em>Further acclaimed European festival appearances include Bregenz, Glyndebourne, Les Choregies d\u2019Orange, Musikfest Bremen and Klara Festival Brussels.<\/p>\n<p>Since his debut, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n frequently appears with the Staatsoper Berlin, often collaborating with Daniel Barenboim to great popular and critical acclaim. Highlights include his role debut as Don Jos\u00e9 in a new production of <strong><em>Carmen<\/em><\/strong>, as well as new productions of <strong><em>La traviata, Manon<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>Eugene Onegin<\/em><\/strong>, Bohuslav Martin\u016f\u2019s <strong><em>Juliette<\/em><\/strong>, Debussy\u2019s <strong><em>Pell\u00e9as et M\u00e9lisande<\/em><\/strong> as well as one of his signature roles Nemorino in <strong><em>L\u2019elisir d\u2019amore <\/em><\/strong>and Don Ottavio in<strong> <em>Don Giovanni<\/em><\/strong>. In the 2022\/23 season, he made a celebrated role debut as Wagner\u2019s Loge in the new production of <strong><em>Das Rheingold<\/em><\/strong> by Dmitry Tcherniakov, conducted by Christian Thielemann, a role he reprised in 2024. Continuing his relationship with the storied theatre, Villaz\u00f3n debuted there as the title character in Mozart\u2019s <strong><em>Idomeneo<\/em><\/strong> in 2025. With the Op\u00e9ra de Paris, audiences have seen him perform as <strong><em>Faust<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>La traviata<\/em><\/strong>,<strong><em> Les contes d\u2019Hoffmann <\/em><\/strong>and<strong><em> Werther <\/em><\/strong>and most recently in a concert with Vienna Philharmonic at Palais Garnier in May 2025<strong><em>.<\/em><\/strong> The role of Hoffmann was also the vehicle for his triumphant debut at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden where he has since returned for performances of Lensky, the Duke, Rodolfo, Don Ottavio in <strong><em>Don Giovanni<\/em><\/strong>, as well as the title roles in Massenet\u2019s <strong><em>Werther<\/em><\/strong> and in a new production of <strong><em>Don Carlo<\/em><\/strong>, both led by Sir Antonio Pappano. Rolando Villaz\u00f3n has further appeared with the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre de la Monnaie in Brussels as Rodolfo and made his role debut as <strong><em>Don Carlo<\/em><\/strong> in a new production with Dutch National Opera conducted by Riccardo Chailly. He made his debut at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona as Nemorino and returned for a new production of <strong><em>Manon <\/em><\/strong>alongside Natalie Dessay. Both <strong><em>Manon<\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em>Don Carlo<\/em><\/strong> have also been released on DVD. He gave his debut at Zurich Opera as Alfredo, returning for a new production of <strong><em>Il re pastore<\/em><\/strong> led by Sir William Christie and for performances of <strong><em>L\u2019elisir d\u2019amore<\/em><\/strong>. In 2010, he debuted with Teatro alla Scala as Nemorino in <strong><em>L\u2019elisir d\u2019amore <\/em><\/strong>and returned in 2014 to sing Ferrando in a new production of <strong><em>Cos\u00ec fan tutte <\/em><\/strong>conducted by Daniel Barenboim. In 2011, he made his role debut as Don Ottavio with the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, followed by his role-debuts as Ferrando in <strong><em>Cos\u00ec fan tutte <\/em><\/strong>and Belmonte in <strong><em>Die Entf\u00fchrung aus dem Serail<\/em><\/strong>. In 2017, he debuted as Tito in <strong><em>La clemenza di Tito<\/em><\/strong>, all in concert performances recorded for CD-release conducted by Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin.<\/p>\n<p>Since his acclaimed debut with the Metropolitan Opera New York as Alfredo, he has returned to star in performances as Verdi\u2019s Duke, Rodolfo, Edgardo and in a sold-out Metropolitan Opera Pension Fund Gala Performance in April 2007. In 2013, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n made an acclaimed return to New York as Lensky in <strong><em>Eugene Onegin<\/em><\/strong> and returned in 2021 and 2023 as Papageno in Mozart\u2019s <strong><em>The Magic Flute<\/em><\/strong>. A favorite with Los Angeles Opera since his debut in <strong><em>La traviata<\/em><\/strong>, the tenor has appeared in subsequent productions of <strong><em>Gianni Schicchi<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>Rom\u00e9o et Juliette <\/em><\/strong>and <strong><em>Manon<\/em><\/strong>. In 2023, he made his Santa Fe Opera debut as Monteverdi\u2019s <strong><em>L\u2019Orfeo<\/em> <\/strong>in a new production by Yuval Sharon, conducted by Harry Bicket.<\/p>\n<p>In concert, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n has collaborated with leading orchestras and conductors on concert stages all over the world, including appearances at the Salzburg Mozart Week with the Vienna Philharmonic, and concerts at London\u2019s Barbican and Royal Festival Halls, the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre des Champs-Elys\u00e9es, Salle Pleyel and the new Philharmonie in Paris, Berlin, Munich and Cologne Philharmonie, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Academy of Santa Cecilia, Carnegie Hall New York as well as sold-out concerts in Miami, Vancouver, Tokyo, Toulouse, Monte Carlo, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Prague, Zurich, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Madrid, Copenhagen and Helsinki, among others. To celebrate Giuseppe Verdi\u2019s 200<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary, 2013 saw the tenor embark on a sold-out 15-city-tour featuring Verdi\u2019s music. The concerts were heard by nearly 25,000 people across Europe. In 2014, he performed Mozart\u2019s concert arias for tenor with the Basel Chamber Orchestra on a European tour which took him to Berlin, London, Paris, Dortmund, Prague and Vienna. In 2007, he gave his German recital debut performing Schumann\u2019s <strong><em>Dichterliebe<\/em><\/strong> accompanied by Daniel Barenboim, a success repeated the following year also at Staatsoper Berlin. In 2014, the duo gave a recital at Milan\u2019s Teatro alla Scala. Daniel Barenboim also led the tenor in the European premiere of Elliot Carter\u2019s <strong><em>A Sunbeam\u2019s Architecture <\/em><\/strong>in 2013, alongside the Staatskapelle Berlin. He joined the Staatskapelle Berlin for New Year\u2019s concerts with a tango-themed program under the baton of Daniel Barenboim and a gala concert with arias from Zarzuelas led by Pl\u00e1cido Domingo at the Philharmonie Berlin. Together with pianist Gerold Huber, he appeared in recital at the Salzburg Festival and the Vienna Musikverein. His outdoor concerts with Pl\u00e1cido Domingo and Anna Netrebko at Berlin\u2019s Waldb\u00fchne on the eve of the 2006 World Cup Final and at Vienna\u2019s Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace in advance of the 2008 Euro Championship Final were both televised live and seen by millions of people around the world. He sang an internationally broadcast open-air concert at Munich\u2019s Odeonsplatz alongside Thomas Hampson and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin, who also led the gala concert which marked his Montreal debut. He frequently collaborates with Christina Pluhar and her Ensemble L&#8217;Arpeggiata: together they have appeared in for performances in Graz, Paris, Budapest, Lyon and Musikfest Bremen. With harpist Xavier de Maistre he created their programme \u201cSerenata Latina\u201d (released by Deutsche Grammophon in 2020) with performances at the Philharmonie de Paris, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, the Musikverein in Graz, Lincoln Center New York\u2019s Alice Tully Hall, among others. With the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n created the concert series &#8220;Rolando Raconte&#8221; at the Philharmonie Luxembourg and returned to sing an open-air gala concert for an audience of over 10,000 people in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>In 2011, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n made his debut as a stage director with an acclaimed production of Massenet\u2019s <strong><em>Werther<\/em><\/strong> with the Op\u00e9ra Lyon. In 2012 he directed Donizetti\u2019s <strong><em>L\u2019elisir d\u2019amore <\/em><\/strong>at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden. In the same production, labeled a \u201cdouble triumph\u201d and broadcast on international TV in December 2012, he also sang the part of Nemorino. The production was later revived at Oper Leipzig. The 14\/15 season saw Rolando Villaz\u00f3n directing three new productions: he made his debut at Vienna Volksoper where he directed Donizetti\u2019s <strong><em>Viva la mamma<\/em><\/strong> and, in his directorial debut for Deutsche Oper Berlin, staged Puccini\u2019s <strong><em>La rondine<\/em><\/strong>. He returned to Baden-Baden\u2019s Festspielhaus to direct a new production of Verdi\u2019s <strong><em>La traviata<\/em><\/strong> and directed an acclaimed production of Donizetti\u2019s <strong><em>Don Pasquale <\/em><\/strong>for Deutsche Oper am Rhein D\u00fcsseldorf. He returned to the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2017\/18 to direct a new production of Strauss\u2019s <strong><em>Die Fledermaus<\/em><\/strong>. In 2019, he made his directorial debut with the Staatsoper Dresden with a new production of Rameau\u2019s <strong><em>Plat\u00e9e<\/em><\/strong> and directed a production of Bellini\u2019s <strong><em>I puritani<\/em><\/strong> at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in D\u00fcsseldorf. He directed Bellini&#8217;s <strong><em>La sonnambula<\/em><\/strong> at the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre des Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es in Paris and for Dresden\u2019s Semperoper in 2023. By In 2022, he made his Salzburg Festival directing debut with a celebrated production of <strong><em>Il barbiere di Siviglia<\/em><\/strong> which was revived at Op\u00e9ra de Monte Carlo in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Rolando Villaz\u00f3n\u2019s vast discography includes a recital of Italian arias, a recital of arias by Gounod and Massenet, as well as an \u201cOpera Recital\u201d, all for EMI\/Virgin Classics. The same label has also released recordings of Monteverdi\u2019s <strong><em>Il combattimento di Tancredi<\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em>I Lamenti<\/em><\/strong> conducted by Emmanuelle Haim as well as a Zarzuela CD entitled \u201cGitano\u201d led by Pl\u00e1cido Domingo. All recordings have won unanimous critical praise. DVD releases for EMI\/Virgin Classics also include the Vienna State Opera production of <strong><em>L\u2019elisir d\u2019amore<\/em><\/strong>, and for Decca the Los Angeles Opera production of <strong><em>La traviata<\/em><\/strong> opposite Ren\u00e9e Fleming. Further releases on EMI\/Virgin Classics include a recording of Verdi\u2019s <strong><em>Requiem <\/em><\/strong>with the Academy of Santa Cecilia, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano and a recording of Vivaldi\u2019s <strong><em>Ercole <\/em><\/strong>led by Fabio Biondi.<\/p>\n<p>In 2007, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n became an exclusive recording artist with Deutsche Grammophon, selling over 2 million albums worldwide with a catalogue including more than 20 CDs and DVDs which have received numerous prizes. His releases on the yellow label include a CD of operatic duets with soprano Anna Netrebko as well as both CD and DVD recordings of <strong><em>La traviata<\/em><\/strong>, recorded live at the Salzburg Festival. In 2006, <strong><em>La traviata<\/em><\/strong> garnered a Grammy nomination and both <strong><em>La traviata<\/em><\/strong> and \u201cDuets\u201d were awarded Echo Klassik Awards as Germany\u2019s best-selling albums in 2006 and 2008 respectively. The tenor received a further Echo Klassik Award in 2007 for the DVD of the 2006 Waldb\u00fchne concert. 2008 saw his highly acclaimed first solo release with Deutsche Grammophon, an album of rare Italian arias entitled \u201cCielo e mar\u201d. In 2009, he released a complete recording of Puccini\u2019s <strong><em>La boh\u00e8me<\/em><\/strong> in addition to an acclaimed album of Handel arias in collaboration with renowned specialists Paul McCreesh and his Gabrieli Players. His recording \u201cDuets\u201d claimed the top spot on the <em>Billboard<\/em> classical chart shortly after its release in the U.S., and in Europe set a record for the best debut ever for a classical album, climbing to the top of the pop charts in several countries. His recording, \u201cM\u00e9xico!\u201d, featuring new arrangements of classical Mexican songs, was released on DG in September 2010 and was awarded with the Echo Klassik in 2011. In spring 2012 a critically acclaimed complete recording of <strong><em>Werther <\/em><\/strong>conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano was released, followed by complete recordings of <strong><em>Don Giovanni<\/em><\/strong> (also in 2012), <strong><em>Cos\u00ec fan tutte <\/em><\/strong>in 2013, of <strong><em>Die Entf\u00fchrung aus dem Serail<\/em><\/strong> in 2015 and of <strong><em>Le nozze di Figaro <\/em><\/strong>in 2016, the first four installments of a seven-part Mozart cycle conceived by the tenor and conductor Yannick N\u00e9zet-Seguin. On the occasion of Giuseppe Verdi\u2019s 200<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n released a recording of arias by the composer, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Early 2014 a recording of Mozart\u2019s Concert Arias for tenor was released, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. In October 2015, he released an album \u201cTreasures of Bel Canto\u201d, in 2017 followed a recording of operatic duets with bass Ildar Abdrazakov and the Orchestre M\u00e9tropolitain de Montr\u00e9al, conducted by Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin. In November 2018, his first Christmas album &#8220;Feliz Navidad&#8221; was released. In 2020 together with French harpist Xavier de Maistre he has recorded \u201cSerenata Latina.\u201d Each of his albums has a best-seller, earning gold and platinum status in Germany and Austria.<\/p>\n<p>Rolando Villaz\u00f3n has been profiled in numerous international newspapers and magazines and featured on television shows such Germany\u2019s <em>Wetten, dass..? <\/em>and<em> Musical Showstar <\/em>and the UK\u2019s <em>Royal Variety Show;<\/em> he has been the subject of documentaries televised in Austria, Germany, the UK and France. In 2010 he became mentor and juror of the UK\u2019s <em>Pop Star to Opera Star, <\/em>a role he repeated in the second series in 2011. He was regularly presenting TV-programmes for the BBC and ZDF, where he was the host of the Echo Klassik Gala as well as fronting numerous cultural programmes. For a decade, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n presented his own series \u201cStars von morgen\u201d on Arte TV televised in France and Germany, and is a frequent guest both as mentor and juror on KiKa\u2019s \u201cDein Song\u201d. He hosts his own daily programme on Germany\u2019s KlassikRadio and had a daily show on Radio Classique in France. In the fall of 2008 and throughout 2009, he starred in a feature film release of Puccini\u2019s <strong><em>La boh\u00e8me<\/em><\/strong>, directed by Oscar- and Emmy-nominated director Robert Dornhelm. In 2022, he co-starred in the German feature fantasy film \u201cThe Magic Flute &#8211; Das Verm\u00e4chtnis der Zauberfl\u00f6te\u201d directed by Florian Sigl. Alongside Jack Wolfe, Iwan Rheon and F. Murray Abraham, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n plays the role of a fictive Opera star called Enrico Milanesi in Hollywood production \u201cCabrini\u201d released in 2024. In 2013, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n\u2019s debut novel \u201cMalabares\u201d was published in Spain. German and French translations of the novel have been published in 2014. His second novel \u201cPaladas de sombra contra la oscuridad\u201d (\u201cLebensk\u00fcnstler\u201d) was published in Germany in April 2017 and his third novel &#8220;Amadeus auf dem Fahrrad&#8221; was published in June 2020 and spent several weeks on the bestseller list of \u201cDer Spiegel\u201d magazine.<\/p>\n<p>Born in Mexico City, he began his musical studies at the National Conservatory of his native country before becoming a member of the artist development programs at the Pittsburgh Opera and San Francisco Opera. Rolando Villaz\u00f3n is a Ch\u00e9valier de l&#8217;Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, one of the highest awards in the field of art and literature in France, his country of permanent residence. He is also ambassador of RED NOSES Clowndoctors International and member of the Coll\u00e8ge de Pataphysique de Paris. In early 2017, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n was appointed ambassador of the Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation. He is currently serving as the foundation\u2019s artistic director.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Through his uniquely compelling performances, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n has firmly established himself as one of the music world\u2019s most critically acclaimed and beloved stars and as one of the leading artistic voices of our day. He is heralded as \u201cthe most charming of today\u2019s divos\u201d (The Times) with \u201ca wonderfully virile voice\u2026grandezza, elegance and power\u201d (S\u00fcddeutsche Zeitung). In his third decade as a performer, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n\u2019s versatility remains peerless. In addition to operatic superstardom, he maintains successful careers as a stage director, novelist, artistic director and TV\/radio personality.<\/p>\n<p>In the 2025-26 season, Rolando Villaz\u00f3n returns to the Vienna State Opera for his house debut as Pell\u00e9as in Marco Arturo Marelli\u2019s production of Pell\u00e9as et M\u00e9lisande, conducted by Alain Altinoglu. The tenor then takes his portrayal\u00a0of Eisenstein in Johann\u00a0Strauss\u2019 Die Fledermaus to the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich for performances conducted by Zubin Mehta. A season highlight is his directorial debut at New York\u2019s Metropolitan Opera, staging a new production of La sonnambula. Further, Villaz\u00f3n directs new productions of Mozart\u2019s Die Zauberfl\u00f6te for the Salzburg Mozart Week Festival and Rossini\u2019s L\u2019Italiana in Algeri in a return to the Deutsche Oper Berlin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":332,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tenor","category-regisseur"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10207,"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions\/10207"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centrestagemanagement.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}