Javier Camarena is a Mexican Opera Star

New York Latin Culture Magazine

6 years ago

Javier Camarena as Idreno in Rossini's 'Semiramide.' Courtesy of Ken Howard / Met Opera.

Javier Camarena is a Mexican tenor who keeps getting encores at the Met. (Encores are not allowed.)

Javier Camarena’s Rapid Rise

Camarena in the final dress rehearsal of “Si, ritrovarla io giuro” from La Cenerentola, the aria that earned his first Met encoreJavier Camarena was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico on March 26, 1976.

He made is professional debut in 2004 at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City as Tonio in La fille du régiment.

Camarena made his Met debut as Count Almaviva in the 2011 production of Gioachino Rossini’s Italian opera Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

The Met has long had a no-encores policy. In 2014, Camarena became only the third singer since 1942 to be honored with an encore during a complete performance on the Met stage. Only Luciano Pavarotti and Juan Diego Flórez have been so honored.

It happened again in 2015 and Camarena became only the second artist to give encores in different operas. The Met audience has now given him three encores.

Camarena lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

To learn more about the artist, visit www.JavierCamarena.com

Javier Camarena in NYC 2017 – 2018

Camarena is Idreno in Rossini’s Italian opera Semiramide February 19 – March 17, 2018

Javier Camarena in NYC 2016 – 2017

Javier Camarena as Arturo and Diana Damrau as Elvira in Bellini’s ‘I Puritani.’ Courtesy of Marty Sohl / Met Opera.

Camarena is Arturo in Bellini’s Italian opera I Puritani at the Metropolitan Opera February 10-28, 2017.