LUIS LEDESMA
BARITONE
BIOGRAPHY
Mexican American baritone Luis Ledesma has established a reputation as a “rich and well controlled baritone” (Opera News). He frequently portrays the heroes and villains of Puccini, Verdi, and the bel canto masters as well as roles in recent new works in Spanish including Florencia en el Amazonas and El pasado nunca se termina, which featured débuts with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera and a return to NYCO Opera.
Recent engagements include Scarpia for Opera Colorado, a Founders Concert with Maryland Opera and the title role in Gianni Schicchi for On Site Opera in New York. Last season, Luis sang the Payador in Maria de Buenos Aireswith Kentucky Opera, Tonio in Pagliacci with Sacramento Symphony, and was a featured soloist with the Toledo Symphony in an all-Puccini concert which included the Messa di Gloria and Il tabarro.This season, Mr. Ledesma will be seen as Rigoletto for Portland Opera’s Opera in the Park. [read more...]
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"Luis Ledesma used his rich voice to wheel and deal" – BroadwayWorld
Gianni Schicchi – "As the title character, baritone Luis Ledesma used his rich voice to wheel and deal his way through the plot--and get his way at the end."
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"...you can feel his character looming over the proceedings even when he’s not onstage..." – The Tennessean
Andrea Chénier – “Baritone Luis Ledesma is Gérard. His voice is sublime and his presence is pervasive. You can feel his character looming over the proceedings even when he’s not onstage. Gérard’s struggle with his conscience in Act III’s “Nemico della patria” in Ledesma’s sure hands is one of this wonderful production’s highlights.”
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"...commanded the stage with a rich but well-controlled baritone..." – Opera News
Tosca – “This year’s Tosca saw many company debuts — all of the principals, save Luis Ledesma, who commanded the stage with a rich but well-controlled baritone as a Scarpia convincingly devious, yet not hammy. When Ledesma looked at his Tosca, Erika Sunnegårdh, he was Scarpia, conquering the diva with his eyes. Their Act II scene together was magnificent. The struggle was well timed and believable.”
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"Ledesma's dramatic voice is especially breathtaking" – Syracuse.com
Macbeth – "Ledesma's dramatic voice is especially breathtaking in the Act III fainting scene, as he learns the news that Banquo's son will survive, a threat to his own rise to power. His final scene aria, when Macbeth acknowledges his failure and laments that his legacy will only be bitter curses, is emotionally dense, conveying at once the bogus king's false bravado and his ultimate despair.”
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“Lisa Chavez and Luis Ledesma are marvelous" – ClassicsToday.com
Florencia en el Amazonas – “Lisa Chavez and Luis Ledesma are marvelous as Paula and Alvaro, respectively, whether sniping verbally at one another or finding joy in reuniting”