Luigi Alva facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Luigi Alva
Born	Luis Ernesto Alva y Talledo (1927-04-10)10 April 1927 Paita, Peru
Died	15 May 2025(2025-05-15) (aged 98) Mariano Comense, Italy
Education	Conservatorio Nacional de Música, Lima
Occupation	Operatic tenor

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 had a high male singing voice. Luigi Alva performed all over the world in major opera houses and at important music festivals.

He was especially known for singing music by composers like Mozart and Rossini. Some of his most famous roles included Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva in Rossini's The Barber of Seville, and Fenton in Verdi's Falstaff. He also helped create new opera roles in world premiere performances. Luigi Alva stopped performing on stage in 1989.

A Life in Music

Early Life and Training

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 Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Lima. In 1949, he sang in an opera-like play called a zarzuela, Luisa Fernanda, in Lima. His first performance at the Teatro Municipal de Lima was in 1951, where he played Beppe in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.

European Debut and Famous Roles

In 1953, Alva moved to Milan, Italy, to continue his studies. He made his first European performance in 1954 at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan. He sang the role of Alfredo in Verdi's La traviata. Soon after, he performed as Paolino in Cimarosa's Il matrimonio segreto.

His big debut at the famous La Scala opera house in Milan was in 1955. He sang Paolino again for the opening of the Piccola Scala. In 1956, he became very well-known for his role as Count Almaviva in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) at La Scala. He performed this role alongside the legendary singer Maria Callas. He sang Count Almaviva at La Scala an amazing 330 times!

Performing Around the World

After becoming famous, Luigi Alva sang with many top opera companies and at major festivals in both the United States and Europe.

• He performed at the Salzburg Festival in Austria, starting in 1957.
• He sang at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland from 1957.
• He appeared at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in France and the Royal Opera House in London from 1960.
• He sang at the Vienna State Opera in Austria from 1961.
• In 1961, he performed at the Glyndebourne Festival in England.
• His first performance in the United States was in 1962 with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company.
• In 1964, he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where he sang in over 100 performances until 1975.

Voice and Style

Luigi Alva had a clear, light tenor voice. He was known for how clearly he spoke the words while singing and for his elegant way of phrasing the music. His style was perfect for the works of Mozart, Rossini, and Donizetti. He also performed in some brand new operas, like La donna è mobile and La domanda di matrimonio in 1957.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1980, Luigi Alva started the Asociación Prolírica del Perú in Lima, Peru. This organization helps promote opera in his home country. He was its artistic director for several years. After retiring from the stage in 1989, he continued to support young singers. He created the Premio Luigi Alva award for them, taught special singing classes called master classes, and was a judge in singing competitions. He also taught singing at La Scala's Voice Academy in Milan.

Luigi Alva received many honors. In 2005, the Peruvian postal service released a stamp with his picture on it. In 2012, he was given the Personalidad Meritoria de la Cultura medal by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, which is a special award for people who have done great things in culture.

Luigi Alva passed away in Mariano Comense, Italy, on May 15, 2025, at the age of 98.

Opera Roles

Here are some of the main opera roles Luigi Alva performed:

• Rossini:
  • Conte d'Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia
  • Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola
  • Lindoro in L'italiana in Algeri

• Mozart:
  • Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni
  • Ferrando in Così fan tutte
  • Tamino in Die Zauberflöte

• Haydn:
  • Ecclittico in Il mondo della luna

• Cimarosa:
  • Paolino in Il matrimonio segreto

• Leoncavallo:
  • Beppe in Pagliacci

• Verdi:
  • Alfredo in La traviata
  • Fenton in Falstaff

• Donizetti:
  • Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore

• Handel:
  • Serse in Serse

Film and Recordings

Luigi Alva also appeared in some opera films and made many recordings.

Film Appearances

• 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

Opera Recordings

He recorded many of his famous opera roles, helping people around the world enjoy his performances. Some of his notable recordings include:

• Verdi: Falstaff (as Fenton)
• Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (as Count Almaviva)
• Mozart: Don Giovanni (as Don Ottavio)
• Mozart: Così fan tutte (as Ferrando)
• Haydn: La fedeltà premiata (as Lindoro)
• Haydn: Il mondo della luna (as Ecclitico)

Recital Recordings

Luigi Alva also recorded a collection of Spanish and Latin American songs called Ay-Ay-Ay in 1963.