This week, the Grand Théâtre de Genève will open a new production of Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda” featuring some of the best Bel Canto performers in the industry. Among the headliners will be tenor Edgardo Rocha in his role debut as Roberto.

Rocha is considered one of today’s foremost interpreters of bel canto repertoire which he has performed around the world. The role of Roberto will bring him back to Donizetti, a composer that changed the tenor’s career trajectory. In 2010, following the illness of a colleague, Rocha sang the title role of Donizetti’s opera “Gianni di Parigi” at the Festival della Valle d’Itria Martina Franca and was met with acclaim. Following the success of the production, his international career took off and he reprised the title role at the Wexford Opera Festival.

He then went on to sing Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena” in the demanding role of Percy. Critics raved stating, “He did justice to Rubini’s fame, his tenor easy and brilliant in the high register, fast and precise in the coloratura.” Now with “Maria Stuarda” Rocha sings his third Donizetti role and continues the Tudor trilogy which he will conclude in Genève with “Roberto Devereux.”

Having already performed at many of the great theaters in the world, this season will see Rocha perform “La Sonnambula” at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf, “Lakmé” at the Zürich Opera House, and “Il Turco in Italia” at the Teatro Real in Madrid.

Recordings

For those not familiar with Rocha’s voice, the Uruguayan tenor has numerous recordings including “L’Italiana in Algeri” from the Salzburg Festival, “La Gazzetta” from Liege and Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle.

Check out these clips of Rossini works.