álaga and the Costa del Sol are well known names and favoured destinations among travellers from all over the world. But only few people know that there is more to the southern Spanish coastline than sunshine, sandy beaches and the sea. On august 12th 1966 for example a singer was born there, whom Plácido Domingo "really cares so much for" and who, as his older colleague says, "has such an extraordinary voice".
It took this singer Carlos Álvarez 24 years to discover that he actually is singer. Álvarez first started a career as a doctor, a gynaecologist to be precise. After four years of studying medicine he found out however that he had a special talent, he didn't want to hide any longer. He exchanged his medical books and doctor coat for score and costume and enrolled at the Music Conservatory of Málaga. Álvarez took part in some amateur performances and was finally discovered by his future manager and teacher Alfonso Leoz, who assisted him on his way into the great operahouses of the world.
The Spanish baritone's first professional appearance on stage took place in 1990 at the Teatro de la Zarzuela, Madrid, in "La del manojo de rosas". Shortly before and after his debut Álvarez won several competitions and prizes.
One of his best remembered acts at this period of his life was the refusal to follow the invitation of the great Riccardo Muti to sing Rigoletto at the Teatro alla Scala. Unlike many of his colleagues he decided to let prudence win over ambition. Álvarez considered himself too young and inexperienced for such a demanding role.

At the age of 28 he was invited to play the villain at Plácido Domingo's side in a production of the relatively unknown opera "Il Guarany" by the Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Gomez in Washington and Bonn.

The Rodrigo in Verdi's "Don Carlo" followed in 1997 in Vienna and in 1998 at the Salzburg Festival. In the following years Álvarez debuted in Zürich, Genf, Madrid, Bacelona, Chicago, London and Paris. He sung Don Giovanni under Muti in Vienna June 1999, at the Ravenna Festival and at the Scala.

Álvarez in 1992

 

In October 2001 Álvarez finally gave his celebrated Rigoletto-debut at the Teatro Real in Madrid. After ten years and the births of his two children (Carlos, 4, and Alejandra, 2) he finally felt mature enough for the role of the tragic jester. The reviews were phenomenal. The Spanish baritone was said to be musically and artistically the perfect embodiment of Verdi's hero.

Some prizes/competitions he won: "Premio al Mejor Intérprete Musical de la Ciudad de Málaga" (95), Grammy for the best latin interpreter of classical music (2001), Classical Award in Cannes for the interpretation of Merlin, Medalla de Oro of Andalucía etc.

His next travels take Álvarez to the Arena di Verona (Rigoletto), to Vienna for the Barbiere di Siviglia and the premiere of Falstaff and to Florence (Rigoletto). He is going to open seasons in Vienna, Madrid, Barcelona and Tokyo.