Alvaro Ramirez, vocal clinician

Bass Alvaro Ramirez was born in Mexico City. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1993. He made his professional debut in 1992 as Mustafa in Rossini’s L’ Italiana in Algeri with the Bowen Park Opera; since then he has been a sought after performer in the Chicago area and throughout the United States. He has performed across the country with groups such as the Chicago Opera Theater, Skylight Opera Theatre, Memphis Opera, Harrisburg Opera, Eugene Opera, Pamiro Opera, Chicago City Symphony, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Du Page Opera, da Corneto Opera, Opera Factory, Pittsburgh Opera, Amarillo Opera, Milwaukee Symphony and Opera North. Mr. Ramirez’s repertoire includes both Figaro and Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, the title roles in Don Pasquale and Attila, Alfonso in Donzetti’s Lucrezia Borgia, Alfonso in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Colline in Puccini’s La Boheme, and Filippo in Verdi’s Don Carlo. He was chosen as a Chicago Opera Theater debut Artist and in 1999, Alvaro participated in the Glimmerglass Young Artist Program.

He received rave reviews for his portrayal of Colline in Puccini’s La Boheme for the American Opera Group in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune wrote: “Alvaro Ramirez, his voice weighty and resonant, gave a touching farewell to his coat in Colline’s aria, Vecchia Zimarra.” Of his Filippo (Don Carlo), Chicago Tribune critic Dan Tucker raved: “…To hear a voice of such high quality is indeed a rare experience.”

He has conducted private coachings and master classes for The Royal Conservatories of Malaga and Granada, Spain. His 2001 recording of General von Zillergut in The Good Soldier Schweik with the Chicago Opera Theater is available on the Cedille Record label.