Antonio Soto (opera singer)
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Antonio Soto | |
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| Born | January 1, 1955 Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Genres | Opera, tango |
| Occupation(s) | Opera singer, cultural entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Website | antoniosoto |
Antonio Soto (born 1 January 1955) is a Uruguayan opera singer, tango performer, and cultural entrepreneur. A bass-baritone, he performed internationally at major opera houses and founded the Sociedad Uruguaya Pro Opera in 1985, which operated for 14 years and brought international stars including José Carreras and Plácido Domingo to Uruguay.[1] Since 2023, he has been the founder and artistic director of the Santa Panda Music Festival in Maldonado Department.[2]
Early life and career
Soto was born in Montevideo on 1 January 1955. He began performing at age 15, focusing initially on tango and folklore music from the Río de la Plata region. At 16, he performed on stages in Madrid and appeared on Spanish television and radio.[3]
At 17, Soto began performing in Madrid, showcasing the folk music of the Río de la Plata region, particularly tango. He held recitals at college campuses in Madrid and performed for television, radio, and concert halls across Spain.[3]
Opera career
Soto made his operatic debut in October 1977 at age 21 at the Teatro Solís in Montevideo as Sparafucile in Verdi's Rigoletto.[2][3] His operatic roles have included Don Giovanni, Leporello, and the Commendatore in Mozart's Don Giovanni,[4] and Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust.[3]
Sociedad Uruguaya Pro Ópera
In 1985, Soto founded the Sociedad Uruguaya Pro Ópera, a non-profit organization that operated for nearly 14 years and was responsible for all operatic activity in Uruguay during that period.[2][1] The organization produced over 20 complete opera productions, including several works that were absolute premieres in Uruguay, such as Verdi's "Macbeth" and "Don Carlo," and Mozart's "The Magic Flute."[2]
The organization hosted celebrated concerts featuring renowned international artists. José Carreras performed twice, including a 1995 concert at the Shopping Punta Carretas, and Plácido Domingo performed in 1996 at the Estadio Centenario.[1] Other notable guests included baritone Sherrill Milnes, mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto, and sopranos Leona Mitchell and Katia Ricciarelli.[3] They also presented performances by the Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow, featuring Maya Plisetskaya.[3]
At its peak in 1995, the organization had 1,200 subscribers.[1] The organization faced financial difficulties following competing events in 1996, including the problematic organization of a Luciano Pavarotti concert that affected public perception of opera in Uruguay.[1]
Theater work
Soto has performed in theatrical productions in Uruguay, including a role in El burlador de Sevilla by Tirso de Molina at the Comedia Nacional in 1980.[5] He was invited by the GALA Hispanic Theatre in Washington, D.C., to perform in the world premiere of the musical Mummy in the Closet: The Return of Eva Perón, portraying Juan Domingo Perón.[4]
Santa Panda Music Festival
In January 2023, Soto founded the Santa Panda Music Festival, an annual classical music and gastronomy event held in the Las Cañas hills of Maldonado Department, 35 kilometers from Punta del Este.[2] The festival takes place at the Chacra Santa Panda venue and features classical music performances in a Tuscan-inspired setting.
The 2025 edition includes performances by the Orquesta Juvenil del SODRE, international opera singers, and tango ensembles. The festival maintains an intimate atmosphere with a maximum capacity of 200 attendees per event.[2] A portion of ticket sales is donated to charitable organizations.[2]
Current activities
Since retiring from the operatic stage several years ago, Soto continues to perform in the tango genre with the ensemble "Trifilio Tango Trío" and appears in musical comedies.[2] He serves as the artistic director of the Santa Panda Music Festival and manages The Ariel Foundation Inc, his cultural enterprise based in the United States.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Antonio Soto: figura consagrada de nuestra lírica, que tiene mucho para decir". La Mañana. Montevideo. November 9, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Santa Panda Music Festival: Música y gastronomía en las sierras de Maldonado". Radio En Perspectiva. January 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Antonio Soto Lyric-bass". Official website. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "La voz del tango". Voz de América. November 11, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ "El burlador de sevilla y convidado de piedra". Comedia Nacional. 7 October 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
External links
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