Arizona Opera Cast Members & Creatives

Tenor Rafael Davila has quickly risen to be one of the most sought-after tenors of his generation. With more than 60 roles already under his belt, he has been invited by Maestro Placido Domingo to sing the operas Norma and La Forza del Destino for Washington National Opera, Tosca for Los Angeles Opera and Manon Lescaut for Opera de Valencia in Spain under Mo Domingo's conducting.

This year marked his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York as Don Jose in Carmen with great critical acclaim followed by invitations by the company to be part of the roster for the next two seasons. Other engagements during the past season included La Fanciulla del West with Michigan Opera Theater, Carmen and Un Ballo in Maschera for Florida Grand Opera, as well as the title role in Verdi's Otello with Teatro de la Opera in PR.

This upcoming season finds Mr Davila singing the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca for Opera de Puerto Rico and Arizona Opera, Turandot for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, his debut as Verdi's Don Carlo with Washington National Opera and his debut in the prestigious Liceu de Barcelona in Spain as Des Grieux in Puccini's Manon Lescaut.

Other recent engagements include La Fanciulla del West and Carmen for Minnesota Opera, Tosca in Leipzig, Germany, his return to Washington Opera as Don Jose in Carmen, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly opposite soprano Ana María Martínez for Opera de Puerto Rico, his debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the world premiere of the opera Bel Canto, return to Valencia as Radames in Verdi’s Aida, appeared at the historic Macerata Festival in Italy as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana and as Canio in Pagliacci and returned to Lyric Opera of Kansas City as Don Jose in Carmen after previously appearing with the company in the operas Tosca, Norma and Il Trovatore.

The 2014-15 season marked the tenor’s return to the historic Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Italy as Canio in I Pagliacci and as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana after his debut with the company in 2004 in the title role of Verdi’s Gustavo III (Riccardo in Un ballo in Maschera). That same season also marked his debut with Florida Grand Opera as Cavaradossi in Tosca. Prior to that Mr. Dávila made his debut as Radames in Aida for Manitoba Opera in Canada.

In 2012, he made his debut in the title role of Verdi’s Otello for Sarasota Opera and as Manrico in Il Trovatore for Opera New Jersey and Kansas City Opera.

Abroad Mr Davila made his debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme for the Netherlands Reisopera, and for the New Zealand Opera as Don Jose in Carmen and as Alfredo in La Traviata. He made his debut as Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot for Connecticut Grand Opera, a role he also sang for the National Lyric Opera of New York, and Opera de Puerto Rico, and sang the premiere of the opera Time and Again Barelas with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra.

His concert experience includes Verdi’s Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Bach’s Magnificat, Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (for the prestigious Casals’ Festival), Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Requiem and Estevez’ Cantata Criolla with The Seattle Symphony Orchestra. His recordings of Ariel Ramírez’ Misa Criolla as well as another recording of the operetta Cofresí by Rafael Hernández were both nominated for a Grammy Award.