Giacomo Aragall facts for kids
Jaume Aragall i Garriga (also known as Giacomo Aragall) is a famous Spanish opera singer. He was born on June 6, 1939. He is a tenor, which means he sings high notes. Giacomo Aragall became very well-known in the late 1960s. He was famous for playing the character Rodolfo in the opera La bohème. This role became one of his most popular performances. Later, in 1994, he started a special singing contest called the Giacomo Aragall International Singing Competition.
Early Life and Music Training
Giacomo Aragall was born in Barcelona, Spain. When he was nine years old, he joined the choir at the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. This was a big church where he started singing. He began to study singing seriously when he was 19.
His first time performing on a big stage was at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. This happened during the 1961-1962 season. He played two different characters: Arlecchino in Pagliacci and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor.
A Career in Opera
Giacomo Aragall's professional opera career began in Venice, Italy. His first big show was on September 24, 1963. He sang in Verdi's opera Gerusalemme. That same year, he performed at the famous Teatro alla Scala in Milan. He sang in L'amico Fritz and signed a three-year contract with the theater.
In 1964, he started performing in many other cities. These included Munich, Berlin, Budapest, and Rome. He became very famous in 1966 for his role as Rodolfo. This was in Puccini's opera La bohème at the Verona Arena. He then sang this role in London in 1968. He also performed it in New York, Buenos Aires, and San Francisco. Rodolfo became one of his most performed and loved roles.
In 1966, Aragall also sang as Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi. He performed this at La Scala with other famous singers. Later, in 1974, he was in Massenet's Esclarmonde in San Francisco. He continued to sing Rodolfo in London in 1979.
In 1994, Giacomo Aragall created the Giacomo Aragall International Singing Competition. This competition helps new singers show their talent. In 1997, he toured Germany. He also sang in the opera La vida breve in Madrid. This was for the reopening of the Teatro Real. The Vienna State Opera gave him a special award called kammersänger.
See also
In Spanish: Jaime Aragall para niños
