The renowned Peruvian tenor Luigi Alva has died at the age of 98, as confirmed by his family and reported in Italian media. He passed away in Mariano Comense, Italy, after a prolonged hospitalization.
Born Luis Ernesto Alva y Talledo in 1927 in the coastal town of Paita, Alva became one of the most admired light tenors of his generation, with a distinguished career centered around the works of Rossini and Mozart. After studying at the National Conservatory of Music in Lima, he made his stage debut in 1949 in Luisa Fernanda. In 1953, he traveled to Italy to continue his training, arriving in Milan after serving in the Peruvian navy.
Alva’s European debut came in 1954 at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan, where he sang Alfredo in La traviata. A year later, he took part in the opening of the Piccola Scala, performing the role of Paolino in Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto—a performance that marked the beginning of his deep connection with La Scala. He soon became a frequent presence on leading opera stages, including appearances at the festivals of Aix-en-Provence, Glyndebourne, and Edinburgh.
In 1956, he starred as Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia alongside Maria Callas and Tito Gobbi, a performance that further solidified his international reputation. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1964 as Fenton in Verdi’s Falstaff, and went on to sing there more than a hundred times through 1975. His refined musicianship and elegant stage presence earned him the admiration of leading conductors, including Claudio Abbado.
Beyond his performance career, Alva was committed to fostering operatic talent in his home country. In 1980, he founded the Proarte Lírico Foundation in Peru to promote lyrical art and support young singers.
Luigi Alva’s legacy lives on through generations of Peruvian tenors who followed his path, notably Ernesto Palacio and Juan Diego Flórez, both of whom have cited him as an inspiration.
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