Rubén Amoretti is a distinguished opera singer born in Burgos, Spain, who has developed an international career as an operatic bass of great versatility and strong stage presence.
Early Years and Training
Amoretti grew up in Burgos, where from an early age he showed an interest in music, participating in popular music groups, tango, and boleros before formally turning to classical singing.
At the age of 25, he decided to devote himself to opera and moved to Switzerland to study singing at the Geneva Conservatory with renowned teachers such as Nicolai Gedda. He later continued his training at Indiana University in the United States, where he made his professional debut in the opera IPagliacci.
Singing Career
Amoretti began his career in the tenor repertoire, performing roles such as Alfredo in La traviata, Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, and Faust in La damnation de Faust, appearing on major European and American stages.
An Exceptional Transformation
His career took an unexpected turn due to a rare disease known as acromegaly, caused by a tumor that, among other effects, progressively transformed his voice, making it impossible for him to continue as a tenor. His vocal range evolved from tenor to baritone and ultimately to bass—an exceptional and virtually unique transformation in the history of opera. This rare medical and artistic case has drawn attention from both the medical community and the film industry due to its singular nature.
Following successful surgical treatment to remove the adenoma responsible for the acromegaly,Amoretti successfully redirected his career toward the bass repertoire and continued performing internationally.
Repertoire and Venues
As a bass, Amoretti has performed a wide range of major roles from the operatic repertoire, including:
- Don Giovanni, Leporello (Don Giovanni)
- Filippo II (Don Carlo)
- Mephistopheles (Faust)
- Zaccaria (Nabucco)
- Mustafà (L’italiana in Algeri)
- Colline (La bohème)
among many others.
He has appeared at leading opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Zurich Opera House, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, among others. He has worked with renowned conductors and collaborated with prestigious orchestras and opera companies across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Zarzuela and Spanish Repertoire
In addition to his operatic career, Amoretti has performed numerous zarzuelas and works from the Spanish lyrical repertoire at venues such as Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela, in titles including El gato montés, Juan José, Marina, and Black el payaso.
Artistic Significance
Rubén Amoretti is regarded as a prominent figure in contemporary lyric art not only for his vocal technique and versatility, but also for the singular vocal transformation that defined his career, transitioning naturally and professionally from tenor to bass.
