Juan José de León
Tenor
Juan José de León is capturing the attention of audiences and critics alike. Hailed for his "big voice" and "versatility (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) the young tenor is rapidly bursting onto the operatic scene. In the 2012/13 season Juan José de León completed his residency with the Pittsburgh Opera where he appeared as Matteo Borsa in Rigoletto, Paolino in Il
Matrimonio Segreto, and Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola. He also joined The Wolf Trap Opera in the summer of 2013 where he performed the roles of Count Libenskof in Il Viaggio a Reims and Dr. Caius in Falstaff.
Mr. de León began a busy 2011–12 season singing the role of Gastone in La traviata with the Pittsburgh Opera's world renowned Resident Artist Program. He also made appearances with the company as Nadir in Les Pêcheurs de Perles and Spoletta in Tosca. He made his Erie Philharmonic debut appearing as the tenor soloist in Beethoven's 9th Symphony. In the summer of 2012 he performed the role of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh before traveling to Beijing for a concert at the National Center for the Performing Arts accompanied by the China Broadcasting and Film Symphony Orchestra.
He opened the 2013/14 season making his New York Met company debut with the American premiere of Nico Muhly’s new work, Two Boys (American Congressman), followed by Falstaff at Opera Santa Barbara and Il barbiere di Siviglia (Conte di Almaviva) at Terme di Caracalla in Roma.
He opened the 2014/15 season with his successful company debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago performing as Tenore Italiano in Richard Strauss' Capriccio, followed by Il barbiere di Siviglia (Conte di Almaviva) at Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv.
Among his future plans are R. Strauss' Capriccio (Tenore Italiano) that will mark his Opéra National de Paris debut, Il barbiere di Siviglia (Conte di Almaviva) at Teatre Principal de Palma, at Austin Lyric Opera, at Madison Opera and Theater und Philarmonie in Essen, La Cenerentola (Don Ramiro) at Staatstheater in Stuttgart, Lucia di Lammermoor and I Pagliacci at Teatro alla Scala (company debut), L’italiana in Algeri (Lindoro) at Opéra de Montreal, a recital in Musashino, as well as the new opera by renowned American composer Mark Adamo: Becoming Santa Claus at Dallas Opera Company.
Previous operatic experience includes Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro at Glimmerglass Opera, Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola at Seagle Music Colony, Alessandro in Il Re Pastore at Southern Methodist University, as well as the roles of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Dema in L’Egisto and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi at The University of North Texas.
An award-winning tenor, he was a National Semi-Finalist at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2011. Other accolades include 1st prize in The Mildred Miller International Vocal Competition, 2nd Prize, The Sergio Franchi Prize, and Critic's Choice Prize in The Marcello Giordani International Vocal Competition, 3rd Prize in The Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition, 4th Prize in The Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition, 2nd Prize and Audience Favorite in the Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition, and 3rd Prize from the Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition. Mr. de León holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from The University of North Texas.