Jose Carreras, tenor: Five places that changed my life

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This was published 6 years ago

Jose Carreras, tenor: Five places that changed my life

By Julietta Jameson
Jose Carreras.

Jose Carreras.Credit: Fiora Sacco

BARCELONA

My city of birth. My hometown. Barcelona means for me: family, music and friends. I spent my childhood and did my preliminary studies of music there. Barcelona is the city where I grew as a man and as an artist. The Grand Teatre del Liceu is where I began to love music and where I did my first performance as a young boy of 11. It was also the theatre of my professional debut. I love Barcelona, its people, the weather, the Mediterranean gastronomy … it's my reference point for all else.

TOKYO

To perform in Tokyo has been, since the very beginning, the highlight of my yearly world tours. I'm fascinated by the people. The Japanese audiences are extremely warm and they make me feel at home. I'm very fortunate to be able to perform in their country. I love their culture, their refinement and their food. I'm always happy to return there.

LONDON

London is a very attractive city in all aspects. It is always full of cultural activities. I have been lucky enough to travel to London very often due to my professional career. Performing at the Royal Opera House and at the Royal Albert Hall has always meant a great deal to me.

MILAN

Milano is a very significant city for what it represents to the world of the opera. La Scala di Milano is the temple of the Bel Canto. I have a very strong and close relation with this theatre and with the city. The rigorous critical standards of La Scala audiences, and, let me say, the applauded performances there have been defining for my professional career.

The city also offers a world of fashion and design, two other things I'm very interested in and finally let me say, that I simply love their food.

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VIENNA

Vienna is the Mecca of opera and of music. To perform at the Staatsoper means that you have reached the sky. The city is music. I have been fortunate enough to perform the most important roles of my career there. I have always felt very close to this city.

Jose Carreras headlines the Bravo! Cruise of the Performing Arts, a seven-night round trip to New Caledonia which departs from Sydney on October 31. See bravocruise.com.au

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