Carlos Mena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlos Mena
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| Born | 1971 (age 53–54) |
| Alma mater | Schola Cantorum Basiliensis |
| Occupation | Opera singer (countertenor) |
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Notable work
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Radamisto (title role), L'Orfeo (Speranza), Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (Disinganno), Europera 5 |
| Style | 20th-century classical |
| Awards | Diapason d'Or (2002) |
Carlos Mena, born in Spain in 1971, is a famous opera singer. He sings a special type of voice called a countertenor, which is a male voice that sings in a high range. He has worked with many music groups, like Al Ayre Español, and enjoys modern classical music from the 20th century.
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Discovering Carlos Mena's Musical Journey
Carlos Mena started his singing career by taking special lessons, called masterclasses, with a teacher named Charles Brett. In 1992, he moved to Switzerland to study music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. He attended a special music school called the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel. His teachers there included Richard Levitt and René Jacobs. Carlos finished his studies and earned his diploma in 1997.
Carlos Mena's Opera Performances
Carlos Mena has performed in many operas, which are plays where the story is told through singing. Some of his important roles include:
- The main character in Handel's Radamisto
- Speranza in Monteverdi's L'Orfeo
- Disinganno in Handel's Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno
- A part in John Cage's Europera 5
Awards and Recognitions
Carlos Mena's music has also won awards. His album De Aeternitate, which he recorded with the Ricercar Consort, won a special award called the Diapason d'Or in 2002. This award is given to excellent classical music recordings.
Carlos Mena's Recorded Music
Carlos Mena has recorded many albums throughout his career. These recordings feature him singing with various musical groups and performing different styles of music. Some of his notable recordings include:
- El Cant de La Sibilla Mallorca - València with Montserrat Figueras and Jordi Savall
- Missa Bruxellensis by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
- Vespro a voce sola with Ensemble La Fenice
- De Aeternitate with Ricercar Consort, which won an award
- Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Antonio Vivaldi
- Paisajes del Recuerdo, an album of Basque songs
- Several albums featuring music by Johann Sebastian Bach, including Actus Tragicus and Magnificat
- Salve Regina by Domenico Scarlatti
- Orphénica Lyra, 1554 by Miguel de Fuenllana
- Under the Shadow with The Disfonik Orchestra, showing his interest in modern sounds
