Xabier Anduaga, the 30-year-old Spanish tenor, has swiftly ascended to stardom in the opera world, earning acclaim for his exceptional vocal talent and stage presence. His journey began in San Sebastian, Spain, where he started singing as a boy soprano in church at the age of seven. By ten, he joined the Orfeón Donostiarra Choir, where he met Elena Barbé, his future wife and vocal coach. Despite early struggles at the conservatory, where he was pushed to sing roles unsuitable for his light tenor voice, Anduaga found his footing under Barbé’s guidance. His breakthrough came in 2016 when he performed at the Rossini festival in Pesaro, Italy, and later stepped in as a last-minute replacement for a role in Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” in Bilbao. Since then, Anduaga has become a sought-after performer across Europe, headlining productions like Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His voice, described as capable of “thinning to a silken thread or blooming into ringing, plush fortissimos,” has drawn comparisons to legendary tenors like Pavarotti, though Anduaga humbly dismisses such parallels. With a growing repertoire that includes bel canto favorites and lighter Verdi roles, Anduaga is poised to become a defining figure in opera for years to come.
This Spanish tenor’s already a star in Europe. Now he’s made a big splash at the Met
