Pedro Lavirgen
Spanish tenor (1930–2023)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pedro Lavirgen Gil (31 July 1930 – 2 April 2023) was a Spanish tenor, whose career spanned over 30 years.
Life and career
Born in Bujalance, during the civil war Lavirgen suffered a serious leg injury and remained in hospital for three years, joining the hospital choir and soon becoming a soloist.[1] Once discharged, he studied at the Madrid Royal Conservatory and at the Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático.[2] He started his career as a chorus singer at Radio Nacional de España and, later, at the Teatro de la Zarzuela.[1] He made his debut as first tenor in 1959.[1] In 1968 Lavirgen debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and in 1975 he made his debut at La Scala and at the Covent Garden Opera House.[3] He also performed at Teatro Colón, Vienna State Opera, Palais Garnier, Verona Arena, and National Theatre Munich, among other venues.[2]
After his retirement in 1993, he taught singing at the Madrid Royal Conservatory.[2] Lavirgen died on 2 April 2023, at the age of 92.[1][2]
