Gaston Rivero

Gaston Rivero
Gaston Rivero in Verdi's Il trovatore
Born	(1978-02-06) February 6, 1978 (age 47) Montevideo, Uruguay
Education	Conservatorio Nacional Superior de Música Music Conservatory of Westchester Renata Scotto Opera Academy
Occupation	Opera singer (tenor)
Years active	1997–present
Website	www.gastonrivero.com

Gaston Rivero (born February 6, 1978) is an Uruguayan-US American operatic tenor from Argentina.

Life and education

Rivero was born in Montevideo ^[1] , and raised in Buenos Aires. ^[2] His grandfather Ramón Olivera was a violinist at the Sodre Theater in Montevideo, Uruguay, ^[3] and his father Carlos Rivero was a tenor at Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. ^[2] Rivero was interested in soccer as a teenager, ^[2] and showed talent in singing at the age of 14. ^[2] At age 19 he appeared in a concert with music by Jacques Offenbach at the Auditorio Del Pilar in Buenos Aires. ^[4]

He worked as an assistant in a law firm and studied in the evenings at the National Conservatory of Music Carlos Lopez Buchardo. ^[2] After applying for a position in the Teatro Colón choir three times without success, he moved to New York City with a scholarship in 2001. ^[2] He participated in numerous competitions (see Awards), ^[5] winning stipends and monetary prizes that enabled him to continue his education in New York, ^{[2] [5]} where conductor Eugene Kohn  [ es ] became his teacher and mentor. ^[5] He studied at the music conservatory of Westchester ^[6] and the Renata Scotto Opera Academy in New York. ^[7]

Career

Rivero made his concert debut at Carnegie Hall in December 2002, ^[8] and joined the cast of Baz Luhrmann's production of La bohème on Broadway ^[9] as understudy for the role of Rodolfo in the same year, ^[3] resulting in his Broadway theatre debut in 2003. ^[10] Rivero's opera debut followed in 2004 in Ponchielli's La Gioconda with the Opera Orchestra of New York (OONY) under Eve Queler. ^[11] He made his European debut in 2005, performing the role of Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly at the Staatstheater Nürnberg. ^[2] Rivero sang the roles of Doge and Gondolier in Rossini's Otello at Carnegie Hall with the OONY conducted by Queler in 2007, alongside Bruce Ford as Otello, and Kenneth Tarver as Roderigo. ^[12]

In 2013, Rivero stepped in to appear as Manrico in Verdi's Il trovatore alongside Plácido Domingo, Anna Netrebko, and Marina Prudenskaya, conducted by Daniel Barenboim at the Berlin State Opera, ^[13] released on video by Deutsche Grammophon in 2014. ^[14] Rivero made his debut in the title role of Verdi's Otello in 2019 at the Aalto Musiktheater Essen, with Tijl Faveyts in the role of Lodovico. ^[15] In 2020 Rivero appeared in an abbridged version of Il trovatore at the Leipzig Opera, wich was performed without a live audience and live streamed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[16] From 2021 till 2024 Rivero was a lecturer in the summer program Lotte Lehmann Akademie in Perleberg, Germany. ^[9] In 2024, Rivero made his debut at the Staatstheater Darmstadt in the title role of Otello, ^[17] alongside Megan Marie Hart, who made her role debut as Desdemona, ^[18] and Aris Argiris  [ de ] who made his European debut as Iago. ^[19] Darmstadt's Generalmusikdirektor (GMD) Daniel Cohen conducted, the director was Paul-Georg Dittrich  [ de ]. ^[17] While reviewers praised the singers and orchestra, ^[20] they reacted negatively to Dittrich's staging. ^{[17] [20]}

Performance

Rivero performed at many opera houses and with companies internationally:

• In France he sang at Opéra de Monte-Carlo, ^[21] Opéra National de Bordeaux, ^[22] Opéra national du Rhin, ^[23] Paris Opera, ^[24] and Toulon Opera. ^[25]
• In Germany he sang at Aalto Theatre, ^[26] Berlin State Opera, ^[27] Cologne Opera, ^[28] Deutsche Oper Berlin, ^[29] Leipzig Opera, ^[30] Mannheim National Theatre, ^[31] Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz, ^[32] Staatstheater Darmstadt, ^[17] Staatstheater Mainz, ^[33] Staatstheater Nürnberg, ^[2] and Staatstheater Stuttgart. ^[34]
• In Austria he appeared at the Graz Opera, ^[35] and the Stadttheater Klagenfurt. ^[36]
• In Italy he sang at Arena di Verona, ^[37] Teatro Coccia, ^[38] Teatro Filarmonico, ^[39] Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi, ^[40] Teatro Mario Del Monaco, ^[41] Teatro Massimo, ^[42] Teatro Massimo Bellini, ^[43] Teatro Pergolesi, ^[44] Teatro Petruzzelli, ^[45] Teatro Regio Torino, ^[46] and Teatro Verdi di Padova. ^[47]
• In the United States he performed with El Paso Opera, Knoxville Opera, Lyric Opera of San Antonio, Opera Orchestra of New York and Wichita Grand Opera. ^[11]
• He also sang at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest, ^[48] Israeli Opera, ^[49] Lithuanian National Opera, ^[50] New National Theatre Tokyo in Japan, ^[51] Royal Opera House Muscat in Oman, ^[52] Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland, ^[53] Solís Theatre in Uruguay, ^[54] Teatr Wielki in Warsaw, Poland, ^[55] Zurich Opera in Switzerland. ^[56]

Recordings

Video

• Vittorio Gnecchi: Cassandra on Cassandra/Elektra (Germany 2010; staging Kirsten Harms, video director: Andreas Bolle) With Gaston Rivero as Agamemnone, recorded at Deutsche Oper Berlin.
• Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana on Cavalleria rusticana/I pagliacci (Uruguay 2011; staging Willy Landin) With Chiara Angella, Gaston Rivero, Raquel Pierotti, Dario Sanguinetti, Kaycobé Gómez. Conductor: Carlos Vieu.
• Giuseppe Verdi: Il trovatore (Germany, 2013; staging Philipp Stölzl, video director Tiziano Mancini) With Anna Netrebko as Leonora, Marina Prudenskaya as Azucena, Gaston Rivero as Manrico, Plácido Domingo as Conte di Luna, Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Deutsche Grammophon, Unitel Classica. ^[14] OCLC   893622544

Audio

• Various: Gaston Rivero Tenor. ^[57] One Soul Records 2003 (self-published) ^{[58] [2]}

Awards

• 2000: Competition of the Asociación de Periodistas de la Televisión y Radiofonía Argentina (APTRA) – Best tenor ^[3]
• 2002: Classical Productions Competition Carnegie Hall – 1st prize ^[11]
• 2003:
  • Ibla Bellini Competition – Most promising young tenor ^[59]
  • Opera Index Vocal Competition, NYC 2003 – Winner ^[60]
• 2004:
  • New Jersey Alliance for the performing Arts ^[7]
  • Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, Palm Beach Florida – 7th place ^[61]
  • Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition NYC – 2nd place ^[7]
  • Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation – 1st place ^[7]
• 2005:
  • BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition – Finalist ^[62]
  • The Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation – Grant Winner ^[63]
• 2006:
  • The Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation – Grant Winner ^[64]
  • Operalia – Finalist ^[65]
  • Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Competition – 1st prize ^[66]
  • Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition – 1st prize ^[67]
  • Metropolitan Opera National Audition Eastern Region 2006 & 2007 – 1st place ^[65]
• 2007:
  • Concurso Internacional de Canto Montserrat Caballé – 3rd Place ^[68]
  • Vidda Recital Award of the Opera Orchestra of New York ^[11]
• 2008:
  • George London Foundation Competition, NYC – Encouragement Award ^[69]
  • Concurs Internacional de Cant Francesc Viñas – Finalist ^[65]
  • The American Berlin Opera Foundation – Dixy Drechsler scholarship ^[70]
• 2009: International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition – 2nd price opera ^[71]

References

1. Bianco, Adriana (September 7, 2024). "Gastón Rivero, tenor hispano amado en Alemania". Aquí Madrid (in Spanish). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
2. Kurt Vlach (October 4, 2012). "Gaston Rivero: "Lieber große Rollen an mittleren Häusern als kleine Rollen an großen"". onlinemerker.com (in Austrian German). Retrieved August 19, 2025.
3. Gaston Rivero. "About the artist". onesoulstudios.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2004. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
4. "Past Appearances – Offenbachiana". onesoulstudios.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2004.
5. Tiziano Thomas Dossena (February 26, 2014). "Interview with the tenor Gaston Rivero". operamylove.com. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
6. "Our History". musicconservatory.org. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
7. "Uruguay: Gaston Rivero". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
8. "Past Appearances – Weil Recital Hall". onesoulstudios.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2004.
9. "Lotte Lehmann Akademie, Perleberg – Gaston Rivero". lottelehmann-perleberg.de (in German). Archived from the original on September 20, 2021.
10. "Past Appearances – Broadway". Archived from the original on June 11, 2004.
11. Cohn Dutcher Associates (July 1, 2008). "Vidda Recital Awards Series with Tenor Gaston Rivero" (PDF). operaorchestrany.org. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
12. Gerk, Sarah (January 23, 2007). "OONY Gives Rare Performance of Rossini's Otello". operatoday.com. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
13. A.J. Goldmann (December 4, 2013). "Opera News – Il trovatore". operanews.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016.
14. "Anna im Wunderland – Neu auf DVD und Blu-ray: Anna Netrebko in Giuseppe Verdis "Il Trovatore" – Plácido Domingo". Deutsche Grammophon (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
15. Schmöe, Stefan (February 9, 2019). "Das Böse in meinem Kopf" [The evil in my head]. www.omm.de (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025. Gaston Rivero spielt diesen Otello als blutverschmiertes Muskelpaket und singt ihn mit Kraft und hoher Intensität, gebrochen in den leisen Tönen, bei aller Strahlkraft, die der Tenor auch besitzt, nie auftrumpfend: Ein Wahnsinniger, zweifellos.[Gaston Rivero plays this Otello as a blood-stained muscleman and sings him with power and high intensity, broken in the soft tones, never showing off, despite all the charisma that the tenor possesses: A madman, no doubt.]
16. Claudia Behn (December 9, 2020). "Oper Leipzig: „Il trovatore" am 06.12.2020 -Livestream-". opernmagazin.de (in German).
17. Zegowitz, Bernd (February 26, 2024). "Zu viel ist nicht genug". Die Deutsche Bühne (in German). Retrieved November 12, 2025.
18. "Megan Marie Hart – Season 2023/2024". Mastodon . September 29, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
19. Hasenstein, Karin (February 17, 2024). "Aris Argiris, Bariton: Interview mit Karin Hasenstein, IOCO". ioco.de. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
20. Hartlapp-Lindemeyer, Ursula (February 29, 2024). "Lehrstück toxischer Männlichkeit: Verdis „Otello" in Darmstadt zwiespältig aufgenommen" [A lesson in toxic masculinity: Verdi's “Otello” receives mixed reviews in Darmstadt]. opernmagazin.de (in German). Retrieved November 12, 2025. Das Liebesduett: „Giá nella notte densa" am Ende des ersten Akts zeigt uns ein Traumpaar in großer Harmonie mit berückenden Lyrismen.[The love duet, "Giá nella notte densa," at the end of the first act shows us a dream couple in perfect harmony with enchanting lyricism.]
21. Herbecq, Sébastien (November 14, 2016). "Un Nabucco tout droit sorti du musée de l'Opéra à Monte-Carlo". Bachtrack (in French). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
22. "Gaston Rivero". www.opera-bordeaux.com. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
23. Perdian, Rick (June 28, 2016). "Stephen Milling's King Philip II Towers over Opéra national du Rhin's Don Carlo". seenandheard-international.com. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
24. "Gaston Rivero". Opéra national de Paris. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
25. "Un Ballo in maschera – Opéra de Toulon (2017) (Produktion – Toulon, frankreich)". www.opera-online.com (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
26. Falentin, Andreas (October 6, 2014). "Opern-Kritik: Aalto-Theater Essen – Manon Lescaut – Freiheit?". concerti.de (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
27. Eisenbeiss, Philip (March 1, 2015). "Verdi's Macbeth" . Retrieved November 8, 2025.
28. McQuistin, Lauren (April 23, 2024). "Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera at Oper Köln". gramophone.co.uk. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
29. "Carmen in Berlin With Gaston Rivero, Directed by Giuseppe Finzi". operamylove.com. March 10, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
30. Kühn, Steffen (October 24, 2011). "Der Versuch die historische Aufführungspraxis wieder zu reanimieren". leipzig-almanach.de (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
31. Rosén, Friedeon (January 19, 2018). "Mannheim/ Nationaltheater: Turandot. Wiederaufnahme". onlinemerker.com (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
32. Peter, Wolf-Dieter (June 20, 2014). "Aida: hier und heute /Aida für Hier und Heute – Gärtnerplatztheater gelingt überzeugendste „Aida" in München". www.nmz.de (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
33. Langer, Manfred (November 24, 2013). "Mainz: „Mefistofele", Arrigo Boito". deropernfreund.de (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
34. Wurzel, Christoph (June 15, 2015). "Wie Freiwild gejagt". Bachtrack . Retrieved November 8, 2025.
35. Skorepa, Peter (October 7, 2012). "Graz: "Manon Lescaut" Premiere". onlinemerker.com (in German). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
36. "Verdis „Aida" als Nahost-Thriller: Zwiespältig". Die Presse (in German). May 13, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
37. Petrosino, Raffaella (August 3, 2017). "Verona, 95° Arena Opera Festival: "Aida"". gbopera.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
38. Cavagnino, Giordano (January 25, 2023). "Novara, Teatro C. Coccia: "Il trovatore"". gbopera.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
39. Mori, Roberto (March 6, 2018). "Verona, Teatro Filarmonico – Manon Lescaut". connessiallopera.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
40. Bisacchi, Stefano (June 23, 2019). "Trieste, Teatro Verdi – Carmen". connessiallopera.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
41. Nardelli, Stefano. "A Treviso un "Trovatore" che guarda al passato". Il Giornale della Musica (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
42. Grippaudo, Ilaria (March 24, 2013). "Teatro Massimo di Palermo: "Nabucco"". gbopera.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
43. Montemagno, Giuseppe (February 28, 2020). "Catania, Teatro Massimo Bellini – Carmen". Connessi all'Opera (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
44. Rocchetti, Roberta (October 24, 2022). "Ottimo il "Trovatore" di Verdi a Jesi". musiculturaonline.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
45. Labarile, Paoloa (December 23, 2024). "Bari, Teatro Petruzzelli: Tosca". operamundus.com (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
46. Mormile, Alessandro (February 26, 2023). "Torino, Teatro Regio – Aida". connessiallopera.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
47. Tommasi, Alessandro (October 25, 2019). "Padova: La sfida di Turandot". lesalonmusical.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
48. "Gaston Rivero as Faust in Budapest". Fidelio.hu. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
49. "Rivero Gaston, tenor". israel-opera.co.il. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
50. "Don Carlos, Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre". operabook.org. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
51. Takahashi, Ayako (January 29, 2014). "Olé! A 'Carmen' supreme". The Japan Times . Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
52. "Aida". rohmuscat.org.om. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
53. Westbrook, Roy (July 10, 2018). "Butterfly's castle: Puccini soars at Savonlinna". Bachtrack . Retrieved November 8, 2025.
54. "Cavalleria Rusticana". Teatro Solís (in Spanish). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
55. "Don Carlo". Encyklopedia teatru polskiego (in Polish). Retrieved November 8, 2025.
56. Servidei, Laura (February 27, 2025). "Opernhaus Zürich 2024–25 Review: Manon Lescaut". operawire.com. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
57. Gaston Rivero. "Gaston Rivero CD". gastonrivero.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
58. "Gaston Rivero: Gaston Rivero - Tenor". Archived from the original on June 5, 2004.
59. "2003 Laureates". ibla.org.
60. "Opera Index Vocal Competition Previous Winners". Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
61. "Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition – Previous Winners". Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
62. "BBC - BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, 2005 - The Final - Uruguay: Gaston Rivero". bbc.co.uk.
63. "Past Winners 2005 International Vocal Competition". liciaalbanesepuccinifnd.org. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
64. "Past Winners 2006 International Vocal Competition". liciaalbanesepuccinifnd.org. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
65. "Holiday Party 2013: Bios". monc.com. December 9, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016.
66. "Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation – Past Winners". Archived from the original on January 3, 2015.
67. "Vocal Competition Archives". giuliogari.org. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
68. "Dos sopranos se alzaron con el triunfo". elperiodicodearagon.com (in Spanish). September 16, 2007.
69. "2008 Competition Winners". georgelondon.org. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008.
70. "Past Winners". The Opera Foundation. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
71. "Belvedere Singing Competition – Prize Winners". www.belvedere-competition.com.

• Biography portal

External links

• Gaston Rivero at Operabase
• Gaston Rivero at IMDb