Giacomo Aragall facts for kids
Jaume Aragall i Garriga (born June 6, 1939), also known as Giacomo Aragall, is a famous Spanish opera singer. He is a tenor, which means he sings with a high male voice. He became very well-known in the late 1960s for his role as Rodolfo in the opera La bohème by Puccini. This role became one of the most important parts he ever sang. Later, in 1994, he started his own singing contest called the Giacomo Aragall International Singing Competition.
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Early Life and Music Training
Jaume Aragall was born in Barcelona, Spain, on June 6, 1939. When he was nine years old, he joined the choir at the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. At 19, he began to study singing seriously. He first performed at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona during the 1961-1962 season. His first roles there were Arlecchino in Pagliacci and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor.
Opera Career Highlights
First Big Performances
Aragall's professional opera debut was in Venice, Italy, on September 24, 1963. He sang in Verdi's opera Gerusalemme. In the same year, he performed at the famous Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. There, he sang in L'amico Fritz by Pietro Mascagni and signed a three-year contract.
Rising to Fame
In 1964, Aragall performed at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Germany. He also began singing in many other cities across Europe. These included Berlin, Budapest, Venice, and Rome. In 1966, he received great praise for his role as Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème. He sang this role at the Verona Arena in Italy.
International Success
After his success in Verona, Aragall took the role of Rodolfo to other famous opera houses. He sang it at London's Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1968. He also performed it at Buenos Aires's Teatro Colón in 1970 and in San Francisco in 1973. The role of Rodolfo became one of the most frequent and important parts of his career. In 1966, Aragall also sang Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi at La Scala. He performed alongside famous singers like Renata Scotto and Luciano Pavarotti.
Later Career and Recognition
In 1974, Aragall appeared in Massenet's Esclarmonde with Joan Sutherland in San Francisco. He returned to sing Rodolfo at Covent Garden in 1979. In 1994, he started the Giacomo Aragall International Singing Competition. This competition helps new singers show their talent. In 1997, he toured Germany. He also sang the role of Pedro in Manuel de Falla’s opera La vida breve. This was for the reopening of Madrid's Teatro Real. The Vienna State Opera gave him the special title of kammersänger, which means "chamber singer."
See also
In Spanish: Jaime Aragall para niños
