EXPLANATION: Due to Romulo Delgado, F.B. Pinkerton, having become ill, with no voice to sing, we’re fortunate to have Ernesto Ramirez take his place.
Mexican tenor Ernesto Ramírez is garnering rave reviews for his distinctive Italianate sound, “wonderfully fluid line and brilliant high notes,” combined with his “suave, nuanced lyricism.” Ernesto debuted as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Mexico’s Opera de Leon, Rodolfo in La bohème with Pacific Northwest Opera, and sang his first Don Jose with Opera Kelowna’s Carmen and in concert with Kitchener- Waterloo Symphony.
In 2022, Ernesto stars as Don José in concert performances of Carmen with Orchestre Classique de Montréal, and debuts as Ralph Rackstraw with Vancouver Opera in their updated production of HMS Pinafore, conducted by Rosemary Thomson.
Ernesto has performed to great acclaim for audiences in France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. In 2014 while engaged as a cover for the title role of Roberto Devereux with the Canadian Opera Company, he was thrilled to share the stage in performance with soprano Sondra Radvanovsky. Operatic roles for Ernesto include Raoul in the Canadian Premiere of Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots, Arturo in I Puritani, and Alfredo in La Traviata with Sarasota Opera.
Prior to the pandemic, Ernesto covered the Duke in Edmonton Opera’s Rigoletto and was the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Hamilton’s Bach Elgar Choir. Ernesto debuted in Against the Grain Theatre’s digital project of Bound, a reaction to those displaced, dehumanized and mistreated by recent geopolitical conflict, with original text by director Joel Ivany. Ernesto sang Stefano in John Estacio’s acclaimed opera Filumena with Calgary Opera, and in 2021 reprised the role with Brott To You in their digital production of selected scenes.
His “resplendent tenor voice” has been heard in performances of Verdi’s Requiem with Brott Music Festival, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Niagara Symphony and Kingston Symphony. Opera companies in Zurich, Quebec, Montreal, Tel-Aviv and Mexico City have welcomed him as a guest artist in their Operas and Galas. He also performed at The 150th Anniversary of Puccini, a gala hosted by Simonetta Puccini.
Ernesto Ramirez is featured in several Opera Breaks, cinematic videos directed by François Racine, filmed by Coffeeshop Creative, and produced by Domoney Artists during the pandemic.