Luigi Alva facts for kids
Luigi Alva (born Luis Ernesto Alva y Talledo on April 10, 1927 – died May 15, 2025) was a famous Peruvian opera singer. He was a tenor, which means he sang high notes.
Luigi Alva was especially good at singing music by composers like Mozart and Rossini. He became well-known for his roles in famous operas. Some of his most famous parts were Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville, and Fenton in Verdi's Falstaff. He stopped performing on stage in 1989.
Contents
About Luigi Alva
Luigi Alva was born in Paita, Peru. Before he became a singer, he served in the Peruvian Navy for a short time. He then decided to focus on his singing career.
He studied music at the National Conservatory of Music in Lima. His teacher there was Rosa Mercedes Ayarza de Morales. Luigi Alva first sang in an opera in Lima in 1949. The opera was called Luisa Fernanda.
In 1953, Alva moved to Milan, Italy, to continue his studies. He learned from teachers like Emilio Ghirardini and Ettore Campogalliani. His first performance in Europe was in Milan in 1954. He sang the role of Alfredo in Verdi's La traviata. After that, he sang as Paolino in Cimarosa's Il matrimonio segreto.
Luigi Alva made his first appearance at the famous La Scala opera house in 1956. He sang the part of Count Almaviva in Rossini's The Barber of Seville. This role became one of his most famous and loved performances. After this, he sang with many top opera groups and at festivals in the United States and Europe.
He sang at the Glyndebourne for the first time as Nemorino in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore. In 1962, Alva performed with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company. He sang Count Almaviva again. In 1964, he sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. His first role there was Fenton in Verdi's Falstaff. He performed at the Met more than 100 times between 1964 and 1975.
Alva had a clear, light voice. People admired how clearly he spoke the words and how gracefully he sang. His style was perfect for the music of Mozart, Rossini, and Donizetti.
In 1980, he started an organization in Lima called the Asociación Prolírica del Perú. He was its artistic director for several years. Even after he stopped performing in 1989, he stayed involved in music. He supported the Premio Luigi Alva, an award for young singers. He also taught special classes called master classes and was a judge in singing competitions. Alva also taught singing at La Scala's voice academy in Milan.
In 2005, Peru honored him with a special postage stamp. In 2012, he received the Personalidad Meritoria de la Cultura medal. This award came from the Peruvian Ministry of Culture. Luigi Alva passed away on May 15, 2025, at the age of 98.
Opera Roles
Luigi Alva performed many different roles in operas. Here are some of the important ones:
Rossini Operas
- Il Conte d'Almaviva in The Barber of Seville
- Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola
- Lindoro in L'italiana in Algeri
Mozart Operas
- Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni
- Ferrando in Così fan tutte
- Tamino in The Magic Flute
Verdi Operas
- Alfredo in La traviata
- Fenton in Falstaff
Other Important Roles
- Paolino in Cimarosa's Il matrimonio segreto
- Nemorino in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore
- Oronte in Handel's Alcina
- Siébel in Gounod's Faust
Filmography
Luigi Alva also appeared in some opera films:
- Falstaff (1956), as Fenton
- Die Entführung aus dem Serail (1967), as Belmonte
- Così fan tutte (1970), as Ferrando
- The Barber of Seville (1972), as Count Almaviva
- Don Pasquale (1972), as Ernesto
Selected Recordings
Luigi Alva made many recordings of his opera performances and songs.
Opera Recordings
- Verdi: Falstaff – (as Fenton) with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, 1956
- Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia – (as Count Almaviva) with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, 1957
- Mozart: Don Giovanni – (as Don Ottavio) with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, 1959
- Mozart: Così fan tutte - (as Ferrando), with the John Alldis Choir and New Philharmonia Orchestra, 1971
Song Recital
- Ay-Ay-Ay – A collection of Spanish and Latin American songs, 1963
See also
In Spanish: Luigi Alva para niños
- Haydn: La fedeltà premiata (Antal Doráti recording)
- Haydn: Il mondo della luna (Antal Doráti recording)
