Tenerife Tenor Jorge de León Named Best Singer by Ópera XXI
Tenerife tenor Jorge de León has been named the best singer of the 2024-2025 opera season by the Ópera XXI Awards for his acclaimed performances in challenging roles.
Jorge de León, a tenor from Tenerife, has been named the best singer of the 2024-2025 opera season. This prestigious award comes from the Ópera XXI Awards, an organization representing Spain's 25 most important opera and zarzuela companies. The recognition highlights de León's impressive career, particularly his performances in challenging vocal and dramatic roles, solidifying his place in both Spanish and international opera.
De León earned this honor for his memorable portrayals of iconic characters. These include Radamès in Verdi's Aida, Otello in Verdi's opera of the same name, and Calàf in Puccini's Turandot. These acclaimed performances took place between late 2024 and mid-2025 at famous venues such as the Teatro Cervantes in Málaga and Ópera de Oviedo (for Aida), ABAO Bilbao Opera (for Otello), and the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville (for Turandot).
This award is particularly significant because it comes from Ópera XXI, an organization at the heart of Spain's opera world. It represents strong support from the professionals and theaters that drive opera in the country. The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 15 at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. De León, who hails from Tenerife, shared his deep satisfaction, seeing the award as a validation of his hard work and dedication to opera. He also expressed pride as a Canarian, viewing it as proof of the talent from his island reaching international heights. This isn't his first major recognition; he previously received the Taburiente Award in 2022.
The Ópera XXI Awards cover 14 categories, recognizing excellence across the board. Other notable winners include:
- Best Female Singer: Soprano Sabina Puértolas
- Best Young Singer: Bass-baritone Manuel Fuentes
- Best Foreign Artist: American soprano Nadine Sierra
- Musical Direction: Gustavo Gimeno
- Stage Direction: Àlex Ollé
- Set Design: Alfons Flores
- Lighting: Felipe Ramos
- Costume Design: Ana Garay
- Video Creation: Pedro Chamizo
- Contemporary Opera Creation: Benjamin a Portbou by Antoni Ros-Marbà
- Promotion of Opera: Children's Musical Company La Federica
- Best New Production: Rimsky-Korsakov's The Tale of Tsar Saltan
- Recovery of Spanish Operatic Heritage: Manuel García's El gitano por amor