Australian baritone José Carbó was born in Argentina of Spanish and Italian descent, and moved with his family to Australia at an early age, where he completed his musical studies at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music in Sydney. He was the winner of the prestigious Australian Singing Competition Opera Award in 2005.

José made his début with Australia’s principal opera company, Opera Australia, in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos (in 2002), and was soon engaged for their production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia, in the title role. Meanwhile, for Opera Queensland, he starred in their production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in the title role. He was a principal singer in the world première of John Haddock’s Madeline Lee at the Sydney Opera House which was greeted with great critical acclaim.

His European début was in Madrid, at the Opera Real, where he sang once again the title role in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia; he was re-engaged by this theatre to sing the role of Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore (February 2006); his performances in the Rossini opera also led to an engagement as Dandini in La Cenerentola for the Festival in La Coruña, in Spain’s northern region of Galicia. His performed roles in Europe include another Figaro – this time in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (September 2005) for Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera.

Other 2006 engagements in opera included Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor in Christchurch, Escamillo in Carmen for Otago University, Rambaldo in La Rondine for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro for Teatro dell’Opera, Dandini for the Bolshoi Opera in Moscow and in concert with the Swiss Symphony Orchestra.  In 2007, he sings Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro and Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Opera Australia. He will also sing Il Barbiere for State Opera of South Australia.

José Carbó has extensive experience in the concert field: his performed repertoire includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Mass in C and Choral Symphony, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, the Fauré’s Requiem, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem and Ralph Vaughan-Williams Mass in C minor with the major orchestras of Australia and New Zealand.  In October, 2006 José undertook a tour as the baritone soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to Japan where he sang three Don Quixote songs by Ravel in Tokyo and Osaka.

Reviews

“José Carbó is dashing – vocally and in his stage presence as the ever capable Figaro – with strong mahogany tones.”

    The Barber of Seville (Figaro) – Rossini; Opera Australia
Peter McCallum, Sydney Morning Herald, Sept 9th, 2004

The galvanizing effect that young Argentinian-born Australian baritone José Carbó had on his first night audience when “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro” rang out from behind them…sounded as though we were fortunate enough to be witnessing the birth of a major career.”

“The Barber of Seville” (Figaro) – Rossini; Opera Australia
Ken Healey, Opera-Opera, October 2004

“Introducing José Carbó – baritone extraordinaire!”

“This was an auspicious night with a new baritone singing and acting the best Figaro I have heard to date. José Carbó‘s stage presence is immediate and showy.  He dominated the evening as is fitting for the title role. His voice is large without being heavy. His capacity on high, long notes is extraordinary. His Largo al factotum was a tour-de-force….. His penultimate note on ‘citta’ was the longest I have heard, verging on poor taste, yet as exciting as it could be. He showed supreme confidence and ease in his interactions with other singers, supernumerary actors (some having haircuts) and audience. He received an enormous ovation for his animated performance…….Indeed, Mr Carbó is so good that we may never hear him again! I was told he was from Argentina and had been a tradesman with a nice amateur voice when discovered. Whatever his past, his unique talents for song and acting make his future assured in the world of opera.”

“The Barber of Seville” (Figaro) – Rossini; Opera Australia
                  Dr. Andrew Byrne, OPERA-L listserv website, Sept 10th, 2004

“As Figaro, Jose Carbo was outstanding with a sturdy and unforced voice. His performance in the barber's shop scene displayed comic timing at its best with a voice brimming with a droll sense of humour.”

 “The Barber of Seville” (Figaro) – Rossini; Opera Australia
John Daly-Peoples, The National Business Review, Oct 8th, 2004

“Michael Lewis gives a commanding performance.  He has real dramatic presence, as does Jose Carbo – who is outstanding as the First Officer – and both men are in clear, firm and resonant voice throughout.”

“Madeline Lee” (First Officer) – John Haddock and Michael Campbell; Opera Australia
Murray Black, The Australian, Oct 15th, 2004

Further information available at www.patricktogher.com