Argentine rising star Marcelo Puente makes his Opera Australia debut as Don José in Carmen, opposite mezzo Rinat Shaham, in February. He has made several important house debuts in recent years, including singing opposite soprano Ermonela Jaho in Madama Butterfly at the Royal Opera House (2017). A lirico-spinto tenor, he has made his name singing Pinkerton, Don José, and the title role of Verdi’s Don Carlo.
Marcelo Puente. Photo © Helen Blanco
Three operas you love most?
Don Carlos, Turandot, and Andrea Chenier
Three favourite tenors?
Franco Corelli, Giuseppe Giacomini, Mario del Monaco
Three favourite sopranos?
Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Dame Joan Sutherland
Most memorable musical experience as an audience member and why?
Fedora from Umberto Giordano at Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires in August 1998. Why? It was the first opera I have ever seen live and it was unforgettably beautiful. After that, I promised myself to become an opera singer.
Three operas you could happily never hear again?
Il mondo della luna by Joseph Haydn, Wozzeck by Alban Berg and Die Soldaten by Bernd Alois Zimmermann. Even though I know they are masterpieces, I need romantic music!
Most embarrassing moment onstage?
Two years ago, I was in the last show of a Carmen performance and in the very...
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