Country

:

Spain

Birth

:

December 28, 1893 in Albalate de Cinca

Death

:

May 30, 1938 in La Coruña, Galicia, Spain

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Miguel Fleta was a Spanish tenor who was born on December 1, 1897, in Albalate de Cinca, a small town in the province of Huesca, Spain. He was the son of a blacksmith and grew up in a humble family. Fleta showed an early interest in music and began singing in the church choir at a young age. He received his first formal music training at the age of 12 when he was sent to study at the Conservatory of Zaragoza. Fleta's talent was quickly recognized, and he made his professional debut in 1919 at the Teatro Principal in Zaragoza, where he sang the role of Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata. He was only 22 years old at the time, but his performance was a huge success, and he was immediately offered a contract to sing at the Teatro Real in Madrid. Fleta's career took off quickly, and he soon became one of the most sought-after tenors in Europe. He made his debut at La Scala in Milan in 1921, where he sang the role of Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème. He also performed at the Royal Opera House in London, the Paris Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Fleta's voice was known for its clarity, power, and range. He had a beautiful lyric tenor voice that was capable of singing both dramatic and lyrical roles. He was particularly renowned for his performances of the works of Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner. One of Fleta's most famous performances was his portrayal of the title role in Massenet's Werther at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in 1923. His performance was so moving that the audience gave him a 25-minute standing ovation. He also received critical acclaim for his performances in Verdi's Otello and Aida, Puccini's Tosca and La Bohème, and Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. Fleta was also a prolific recording artist, and he made over 200 recordings during his career. His recordings of the arias from Verdi's La Traviata and Puccini's La Bohème are particularly famous. Despite his success, Fleta's career was not without controversy. He was known for his difficult personality and his tendency to cancel performances at the last minute. He also had a reputation for being unreliable and difficult to work with. Fleta's career began to decline in the late 1920s, and he retired from the stage in 1935 at the age of 38. He spent the rest of his life in his hometown of Albalate de Cinca, where he died on May 28, 1938, at the age of 40. Despite his short career, Fleta's legacy as one of the greatest tenors of the 20th century lives on. He was a pioneer in the recording industry and helped to popularize classical music through his recordings. He was also a trailblazer for Spanish opera singers and helped to establish Spain as a major force in the world of classical music. Fleta received numerous awards and honors during his career, including the Gold Medal of Fine Arts from the Spanish government in 1928. He was also awarded the Order of Alfonso X the Wise, one of Spain's highest honors, in recognition of his contributions to the arts. In conclusion, Miguel Fleta was a Spanish tenor who had a short but illustrious career. He was known for his beautiful lyric tenor voice and his performances of the works of Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner. He was also a prolific recording artist and helped to popularize classical music through his recordings.

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