Love Me Tenor

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Barcelona - Si! • Love Me Tenor • Stable • Handsome Tenor • Tenor & Businessman • Argentinean Heart • Something Great • Need to Lead • London Masterclass • Let's Get Physical • Cura Thinks about Conducting • On-Air Interview - Ireland • Pr for Ireland

LOVE ME TENOR

By ERNESTO LECHNER

February 23, 2005 -- At 42 years of age, Jose Cura is an internationally acclaimed opera singer, orchestra conductor and multi-instrumentalist.
Want more? The Argentinian tenor, who will perform at the Met throughout February and March reprising his critically acclaimed lead role in Camille Saint-Saens's "Samson et Dalila," is also getting ready to publish his first book of photographs.

No wonder critics accuse Cura of being an arrogant, self-proclaimed Renaissance man - a claim that he is quick to dismiss.

"It's not arrogance," he exclaims. "I think you need to be humble in order to admit that you have a number of talents and you're ready to suffer greatly in order to develop them."

Cura discovered his gift for singing almost by accident. A native of Rosario, a picturesque city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, he landed his first conducting gig when he was 15.

"I discovered the power of my own voice when I was taking singing lessons at the conservatory as part of my degree," he explains. "Some people stimulated my growth while others tried to stunt it. Things became easier when I moved to Europe."

The tenor, who names "Samson" and Bizet's "Carmen" as his two favorite operas, has no qualms about facing the commercial realities of the highly competitive classical music business.

"By singing opera, I became a better conductor," he offers. "You have to be realistic and realize that you are also a product within a market that has specific needs. If you try to invent your own reality, I don't think you'll last long."

True to this philosophy, Cura opened his own record label in 2001. The company is branching out this year to include artist management and special events production.

The tenor is not alone in this - his wife of 25 years acts as the company's general manager.

"I was walking in downtown New York with my secretary the other day, wondering about my need to further complicate my life with more new projects," he says.

"That's what happens to you when you have a restless temper. Even if I had a 50-hour day, it would feel short to me."

Last Updated: Friday, November 16, 2007