A native of Lima, Peru, LuisAntonio Gálvez-Alcántara, possessor of a dark, full-bodied lyric voice has become one of the most sought after tenors in the Chicago area. Recently, he triumphed as Rodolfo in La Boheme with Chicago's newest opera company, Intimate Opera.
"Mr. Gálvez-Alcántara, a Rodolfo full of passion, dominated the night in both great singing and acting. He rises thrillingly to all of Puccini's demands, yet is capable of the quiet introspective moments" -The Spire
His performances as Don Jose in Carmen, with the same company, caused critics to exclaim over his "mezza-voce reminiscent of Beniamino Gigli".
Upcoming engagements include Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Intimate Opera, The Prince in Rusalka with Opera for the Young, Handel's Messiah, and Siete canciones populares españolas by De Falla and the La Jota from La Dolores by Bretón in a double bill with Pagliacci, as well as concerts in Trujillo and Lima Peru. His schedule also includes Madama Butterfly with Touring Concert Opera Company, Carmen and Romeo et Juliette with Opera Brooklyn.
In the 2000-2001 season he performed Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, concerts with the Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Judson Symphony, Saint Ignatius Chamber Orchestra, a recital tour in Peru and concerts in the Caribbean, aboard the new ship "Costa Atlantica".
In the 1999-2000 season, after a stretch of concerts in England, he returned to Chicago to perform Rafael in Serrano's Zarzuela La Dolorosa during Marshall Field's "Day of Music" at the Chicago Symphony Center, debuted with Da Corneto Opera Company in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia, and portrayed Cavaradossi in Tosca at the Lincolnwood Fine Arts Festival. He was also soloist in Handel's Messiah with the Judson Symphony Orchestra, appeared in concerts with the Alexine Orchestra and portrayed Rudy in the critically acclaimed musical The Christmas Scooner by Julie Shannon.
Highlights of the 1998-99 season include Agustin in Los de Aragon and Javier in Luisa Fernanda at the Chicago Cultural Center with The Opera Factory and an appearances as the Cantador in La Dolores with Ensemble Español. Other performances include Cosi fan tutte and Goyescas in Graz, Austria and El Barbero de Sevilla with Amarillo Opera.
In great demand in the concert repertoire, his performances have included Misa Criolla by Ramirez, Verdi's Requiem, Die Sieben Worte Jesu Christi by Schutz, Dubois' Seven Last Words of Christ, Handel's Messiah, Bach's Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland and Schweight Stille, Plaudert Nicht. In addition, he has performed six world premieres; The Life of the Virgin Mary by Branson, Christo Gloria in Ecclesia by McKenna, Gloria by Meade, Love Bade Me Welcome by Archer, An American Requiem by Cowan and Blood Wedding by Leone.
As a recitalist, Mr. Gálvez-Alcántara has performed for Chicago Artists Association, Peruvian Arts Society, Viva Chicago Latin Music Festival, Peruvian American Medical Society, WGN Radio, WLS Radio and WSBC Radio. He was also a featured soloist in the Funeral Mass for Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and in the Installation Mass for Archbishop Francis George.
Mr. Gálvez-Alcántara has received the most distinguished award offered by the Association of Peruvian Institutions in the U.S. and Canada for his excellence and commitment to the Peruvian community as a valuable contributor to promoting cultural diversity. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Roosevelt University, and pursued advanced studies in opera with the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.
LuisAntonio Gálvez-Alcántara
"While most of my work is in the classical venue, I hope to share the beauty of Latin American music, and to honor ethnic diversity as a true expression of the uniqueness of different cultures."
La roca fria del Calvario from La Dolorosa
Ch'ella mi creda from La Fanciulla del West