Francisco Vinas

Francisco Viñas was one of the most prominent and versatile tenors of his era, especially renowned for his interpretations of Wagnerian roles in Italian. He made his debut as Lohengrin at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona in 1888 and soon became a regular guest at major opera houses in Europe and America. He sang a wide repertoire of over 35 roles, including Radames in Aida, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Canio in Pagliacci, Faust in Mefistofele, Siegmund in Die Walküre, and the title roles in Faust, Tannhäuser, Rienzi and Tristan und Isolde. He also performed in several world premieres, such as Mascheroni's Lorenza and Mascagni's Iris. He was admired for his powerful and expressive voice, his clear diction, his elegant phrasing, and his dramatic intensity. He made numerous recordings between 1903 and 1912 for Fonotipia, Pathé, and Odeon, which showcase his remarkable vocal qualities and style. He retired from the stage in 1918 and settled in Barcelona, where he died of lung cancer in 1933. He is considered one of the greatest tenors of all time and a pioneer of Wagnerian singing in Italy and Spain. In his honor, the Francisco Viñas Singing Contest was founded in 1963 and is held annually at the Liceu.