Ramon Iriarte
Encyclopedia
Ramon Iriarte was a baritone opera singer. His father was Venezuelan (Segundo Iriarte) and his mother was Spanish (Felisa Estivalez). Due to World War II and the political situation in France the life for children was not easy, his younger brother was starting to get mentally ill from the constant sirens. At the age of nine he emigrated to Venezuela with his parents and brother seeking a better future and peace from WWII. Several years later, Iriarte started his singing lessons with Carmen Teresa Machado followed by Irene Eberstein's as teachers. We also know that Mr. Primo Casale and Mme. Nina de Iwanek were in charge of his music repertoire.
His career began in 1957 in La Escuela Nacional de Opera (important opera school in Venezuela). There, he got roles in the opera “Rigoletto”, “Un Bello in Masquera”, and many others. The big jump in his career happened two years later were he got the main role as “El Conde de la Luna” in Trovador, an opera by Giuseppe Verdi. After a great performance and success many doors opened to him in the opera world. Virginia
, “ Amico frittz”, “Carmen, Aida”, “Clowns”, “Butterfly”, “Bastien and Bastiana” had become part of Iriarte’s wide music repertoire full of success. One of the main places where Mr Iriarte got to show his talent in a national way was in El Teatro Municipal de Caracas (Important caracas's theatre) :es:Teatro Municipal de Caracas
In 1967 was the first time he performed internationally in New York City
where he gained fame and reputation. His baritone’s life kept blooming as the years passed.
For over twenty – five years he dedicated his life to opera and proudly is part of the Venezuelan heritage. Singing international operas,
he also was protagonist in the National opera creations of the time like Doña Bárbara
.
Few years after, Iriarte decided to take time off from the opera scene and recorded some folkloric music and made few musical television shows. As the years went by, pursuing happiness with his family he became a bank manager to be able to spend and dedicate more time to them.
In the mid 1990s Ramon Iriarte left Venezuela with his family, wife and three children to live in Canada, where he occasionally sings.
and libretto
His career began in 1957 in La Escuela Nacional de Opera (important opera school in Venezuela). There, he got roles in the opera “Rigoletto”, “Un Bello in Masquera”, and many others. The big jump in his career happened two years later were he got the main role as “El Conde de la Luna” in Trovador, an opera by Giuseppe Verdi. After a great performance and success many doors opened to him in the opera world. Virginia
Virginia (Montero)
Virginia is an opera in four acts with music by Venezuelan composer José Ángel Montero and libretto, in Italian, by Domenico Bancalari. It is believed to be the first opera ever composed in Venezuela, and was first performed in the Teatro Caracas on April 26, 1873...
, “ Amico frittz”, “Carmen, Aida”, “Clowns”, “Butterfly”, “Bastien and Bastiana” had become part of Iriarte’s wide music repertoire full of success. One of the main places where Mr Iriarte got to show his talent in a national way was in El Teatro Municipal de Caracas (Important caracas's theatre) :es:Teatro Municipal de Caracas
In 1967 was the first time he performed internationally in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he gained fame and reputation. His baritone’s life kept blooming as the years passed.
For over twenty – five years he dedicated his life to opera and proudly is part of the Venezuelan heritage. Singing international operas,
he also was protagonist in the National opera creations of the time like Doña Bárbara
Doña Bárbara
Doña Bárbara is a novel by Venezuelan author Rómulo Gallegos, first published in 1929. It was described in 1974 as "possibly the most widely known Latin American novel"....
.
Few years after, Iriarte decided to take time off from the opera scene and recorded some folkloric music and made few musical television shows. As the years went by, pursuing happiness with his family he became a bank manager to be able to spend and dedicate more time to them.
In the mid 1990s Ramon Iriarte left Venezuela with his family, wife and three children to live in Canada, where he occasionally sings.
Sources
- José Ángel Montero y su ópera Virginia (José Ángel Montero and his opera Virginia) (in Spanish), Felipe Sangiorgi. Analysis, synopsis
and libretto
- History of el Teatro Municipal de Caracas
- El Nacional(Venezuelan news paper) July 1967 and February 1969