On June 25, the Teatro La Fenice will open a production of Gounod’s “Faust” with a stellar cast of all-star singers and rising stars. Iván Ayón Rivas will sing the title role making his role debut and continuing his rise in the opera world. It will also mark the tenor’s return to La Fenice.

Born in Perù, Rivas won the second prize at the Peruvian National competition for Opera Singers and won the third edition of the Concorso Internazionale di Canto “Premio Etta Limiti”.

He has performed at the many of the great Italian theaters including the Teatro Regio di Torino, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, and the Macerata Opera Festival.

Rivas has also developed a diverse Italian repertoire from repertory staples like “La Traviata,” ” La Bohème,” and “Rigoletto” to rarely performed works like Mercadante’s “Francesca da Rimini, Verdi’s “Il Corsaro” and “Un giorno di regno,” and Cilea’s “L’Arlesiana.” Critics have raved about his voice stating he sings with “enthusiasm and vocal generosity.”

And for those not in Venice for “Faust,” Rivas is set to perform at the Teatro alla Scala’s opening night production of “Macbeth” and will also return to La Fenice for his signature Duke in “Rigoletto.” He will also perform at the Teatro verdi di Trieste.

Recordings 

For those who are not familiar with Rivas’ voice, he can be heard on a recording of Mercadante’s “Francesca da Rimini” on Dynamic from the Festival Valle d’Itria.

Here he is in “Rigoletto” from Rome:

Here he is in “Elisir D’Amore”: