A lyric-dramatic tenor with a commanding stage presence and matinee-idol good looks, José Cura is one of the most successful of the younger generation of today's singers. He started his career studying choral and orchestral conducting, piano and singing. He now pursues all three careers, sometimes in the same concert!

Cura left his native Argentina in 1991 for Verona, Italy to further his career. Cura worked in smaller houses for a short time, adding roles to his repertoire and by the mid-1990's he was already singing in major European and American opera houses.

He has specialized in the lyric-dramatic roles of Puccini and Verdi and took on the signature role of Otello for the first time in 1997 with Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic.

Cura lived for a time in Paris and has made Madrid his home recently with his wife and three children. His recordings for the Universal labels include a 'live' Manon Lescaut from La Scala on DG and a highly acclaimed studio recording of I Pagliacci with Riccardo Chailly and the Concertgebouw Orchestra on Decca.