Tenor Leonardo Navarro has Died, Aged 38

The Chilean singer had been a member of the ensemble at the Wiener Staatsoper since 2017

The young Chilean tenor Leonardo Navarro has passed away at the age of 38.

Hailing originally from Concepción, Chile, Navarro made his operatic debut in Rossini’s Il Signor Bruschino in 2011. He remained at the same house for roles including Monostratos (Die Zauberflöte) and Messagiero (Aida). Navarro then developed his career throughout South America, eventually working his way up to the role of Pong (Turandot) at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago.

In 2017 he became a member of the ensemble at the Wiener Staatsoper, where he performed roles including Herault de Sichelles (Dantons Tod), Basilio and Don Curzio (Le Nozze di Figaro), Borsa (Rigoletto), Erster Gralsritter (Parsifal), Spoletta (Tosca), Abdallo (Nabucco), and Pong (Turandot).

More recently, he appeared as Normanno in a new production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and in June 2019 he sang Rodrigo in a new production of Verdi’s Otello.

"We deeply regret the passing of opera singer Leonardo Navarro, who with his voice and talent gave life to various opera characters on this and other national and international stages," wrote the Teatro Municipal de Santiago in a statement. "We share his family and friends’ sorrow. May he rest in peace."

"We will forever cherish the memory of Leonardo’s beautiful, resonant tenor voice, his infectious smile, and his genuine warmth," said Constantinos Yiannoudes, General Director of Kyrenia Opera.

Our condolences to Navarro's family, friends, and colleagues.