José Mardones (singer)

José Garcia de Mardones Ortiz de Pereda (born August 14, 1868 in Fontecha , † May 4, 1932 in Madrid ) was a Spanish opera singer ( bass ).

Mardones began his musical career as a boy soprano in choirs in his home region. He later studied singing at the Madrid Conservatory . He earned his living first as a church singer and with appearances in small supporting roles. In 1891 he made his debut at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, and a little later at the Theatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro . The positive response confirmed his decision to become an opera singer.

In 1901 he was the soloist in Lorenzo Perosi's oratorio Mosè , after which he worked for some time with the Zarzuela composer Ruperto Chapí . From 1904 he was part of Emilio Sagi-Barba's Zarzuela company for several seasons . From 1909 to 1916 he was engaged at the Boston Opera . In 1913 Arturo Toscanini invited him to sing the bass part in Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem. In 1917 he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera , where he was engaged until 1926. After his debut in Aida , he appeared in operas such as I puritani (with María Barrientos and Hipólito Lázaro ), Faust , Les Huguenots , La forza del destino (with Enrico Caruso ) and Il barbiere di Siviglia . His voice has often been compared to that of Fyodor Chaliapin . After 1926 he returned to Spain, where he was active as a singer until his death.

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personal data
SURNAME	Mardones, José
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Pereda, José Garcia de Mardones Ortiz de (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Spanish opera singer
DATE OF BIRTH	August 14, 1868
PLACE OF BIRTH	Fontecha
DATE OF DEATH	May 4, 1932
Place of death	Madrid