JOSÉ CARRERAS JOSÉ CARRERAS occupies a privileged position in the music world. Born in Barcelona, he studied music in his hometown. In 1970 he started his professional career in the Gran Teatre del Liceu of Barcelona with Nabucco and Lucrezia Borgia.
His meteoric musical career resulted in early debuts at the world’s most prestigious opera theatres and festivals, including the Teatro alla Scala of Milan (“Un Ballo in Maschera”, 1975); the New York Metropolitan Opera House (“Tosca”, 1974); San Francisco Opera (“La Bohème”, 1973); the Vienna Staatsoper (“Rigoletto”, 1974); London’s Royal Opera House (“La Traviata”, 1974); The Oper of Munich (“Tosca”, 1974); Chicago’s Lyrics Opera (“Un Ballo in Maschera”, 1976); and the Festivals of Salzburg (“Don Carlo”, 1976); Aix en Provence (“ Roberto Devereux”, 1977); Edinburgh (“Verdi Requiem”, 1982) and Verona (“Carmen”, 1984). His great opera career includes also operas like “Stiffelio” or “Jerusalem” and later he re-discovered Ermanno Wolf-Ferraris great opera “Sly” which he sang in different opera houses and which was live recorded as well. After a break José Carreras returned in May 2014 to opera stage in the leading role in the opera “El Juez” (The Judge). The media quoted his return as “triumphant comeback to opera stage” and “the startenor was celebrated with standing ovations, deafening applause und loud shouts of bravo!”.
In his long career José Carreras has collaborated with the most renowned orchestras and orchestra conductors, among others with Herbert von Karajan and with pre- eminent stage directors like Franco Zeffirelli.
His repertoire includes 66 operas and his wide concert repertoire includes over 600 titles of the most diverse styles ranging from the baroque to contemporary music. Together with his opera activities, he has given frequent recitals in the world’s most famous concert halls and he gives concerts as well in big Arenas and concert halls as in Open Air spaces. His extensive discography includes over 160 recordings, notably 50 complete operas, oratories, popular and classical recitals. He has been awarded many Gold and Platinum Discs world-wide. Altogether approximately 75 million recordings with José Carreras have been sold worldwide.
José Carreras has also performed the leading role in several operatic films as well as for cinema. A “Life Story” was awarded an International Emmy Award.
José Carreras has received numerous national and international prizes, distinctions of States and Cities and has also been awarded the title Doctor honoris causa by 16 Universities.!
Since 1988, in addition to his professional activities, he presides with total dedication and enthusiasm over the “José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation” established in Barcelona and with branches in the United States, Switzerland and Germany. Currently the international José Leukaemia Foundation is one of his most important goals and priorities. 2013 the Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary.
In 1992 José Carreras was engaged as Musical Director of the memorable Olympic Games held in Barcelona.
The “3 Tenors” concerts offered by José Carreras together with his colleagues Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti to the world, are now legendary. Followed by world-wide audiences of over two billion, they have created an unprecedented impact in the world of opera. 1
In the last years José Carreras performed in many memorable concerts around the globe in the most prestigious concert halls but also in special events, festivals and Open Air concerts. For instance he performed as star guest in a huge Open Air concert with the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra on the famous Palace Square in Vienna under the direction of Zubin Mehta. Together with Placido Domingo and the Norwegian star Sissel Mr. Carreras participated in Moscow in legendary Christmas Concerts at Gostinny Dvor and 2012 in the auditorio of “Christ the Saviour”. He also starred among others in the spectacular Open Air Gala concert „A Tribute To Lehar“ together with his colleagues Placido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Eva Lind and Andrea Rost. Together with Gloria Estefan, Quincy Jones and Andy Garcia, Mr. Carreras performed at the opening of the new concert Hall in Miami/Florida. José Carreras performed the opening hymn for the “New 7 World Wonders” in the Benfica stadium in Lisbon, an event which was broadcasted worldwide. He performed in big Open Air Concerts in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Naples, Lisbon etc. in front of 60 to 80.000 people. Together with Placido Domingo, Sting and Andrea Bocelli , José Carreras performed in Petra (Jordan) in a tribute concert to his great collegue Luciano Pavarotti. Carreras also performed as star guest in a gala on the occasion of the opening of the Shanghai Expo which was seen by 1,2 billion people on TV. etc. etc. The years 2012/13/14 brought a series of concerts all over the world including Asia, South America , Europe, also the Emirates, Oman, Lebanon, Turkey, Israel etc. – and exclusive Christmas concerts in Sofia, Budapest, Bratislava, Braunschweig, London and Moscow etc. with his collegue Placido Domingo he performed in a concert in the Bolshoi-Theatre in Moscow, and on Chinas CCTV 1 for 500 million viewers with starpianist Lang Lang etc.
To mark the 30th anniversary of his stage debut at the Vienna State Opera he returned 2004 to the famous Viennese opera house. In this memorable evening Carreras gave a most moving portrayal of the poor poet "Sly" in the opera of Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. The last part of the program was the Don José in "Carmen" in Zeffirellis production.
And in September 2013 he gave a memorable concert at the Vienna State Opera and received at the same occasion the “Golden Ring of Honor of the Vienna State Opera”. The audience showed its appreciation with standing ovations of 40 minutes! The Austrian Mail honoured his remarkable career with a "José Carreras" stamp, which benefits the José Carreras Leukemia foundation.
Recent Recordings: the CD “Belle Epoque” containing works of composers such as Satie, Ravel, Schreker, Schönberg, Puccini etc. was released by Sony. In September 2010 Sony released the Carreras recording “Mediterranean Passion”. The CD consists of beautiful songs from Italy, Spain and his homeland Catalonia. The CD was praised by “Classic fm” magazine, UK, as one of the best CDs. Quote: “… it’s clear from this new release that a return to the romantic song repertoire will guarantee packed concerts. With this material, his lyrical vocal qualities are reminiscent of Caruso, with that trademark impassioned delivery…”
December 2013 marked the release of his latest CD “25 Meraviglioso” (EOM). On this CD José Carreras joins forces with world stars like José Feliciano, pianist Lang Lang, violinist David Garrett, akkordeon player Richard Galliano and the wonderful trumpeter Alison Balsom. The international release will be in spring 2014.
In 2012 was the 18th (¡) anniversary celebration of the „José Carreras-Gala“ which is annually broadcasted live by the German TV station ARD. The program was seen by over 7 million people in Germany, Austria and Switzerland which donated 7,4 2 million Euros to the Carreras Foundation! Stars like Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Elton John, Liza Minelli, Andre Rieu, Anne Sophie Mutter, Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, David Garrett, Il Divo, Harry Belafonte, Lionel Richie, Klaus Meine (Scorpions), Paul Potts and many more performed in the Carreras galas.
In December 2013 for the first time the “José Carreras Gala” was successfully broadcast by SKY-TV not only in Germany but also in Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic.
Among many awards José Carreras received in London the prestigious BRIT AWARD: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo and the Duchess of Cornwall presented the award to Mr. Carreras. He also received in Germany the most important ECHO-Award. And the St.Georgs award at the Semperopera in Dresden as well as the prestigious Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos and his 16th Dr.h.c.!
His new biography „From the Heart“ was published in 2012.
Currently the „Jose Carreras Leukemia Foundation“ is investing 12 Million Euros in the construction of a new leukemia research center based in Barcelona. Supporting scientific research has been one of the biggest priorities of the José Carreras Foundation. Since 1988, the various José Carreras Foundations around the world have invested more than €100 million in research and have financed over 400 research projects. Yet in spite of all this progress, and even though the percentages of patients cured have risen considerably one in four children and half of all adult patients still die from leukaemia.
This is why the José Carreras Foundation has decided to give a little bit extra. The commitment to the patient is our raison d'être and this is why it is fundamentally important to increase scientific research activity focussed on leukaemia and other malignant blood diseases. This is why, in partnership with the public administration, the Foundation has embarked upon a historic and unprecedented project: the first Spanish research centre to focus exclusively on leukaemia and other blood related diseases, and one of the only such centres in the world.
Contact: Kupfer Kultur & Media A-1010 Vienna, Walfischgasse 14 T:+43-1-5129844 e-mail: [email protected]
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