Gabriel Gargari (Monostatos)
A first-generation Mexican-American, Gabriel Gargari has become one of America’s most sought-after young character tenors.
He is excited to be back with Phoenix Opera. The New York Times praised his “brilliant stage presence and superb comic talent” for his work as “a leering Monostatos” in Martina Arroyo’s production of The Magic Flute this past summer with Prelude to Performance as a guest artist. He twice participated in Ms. Arroyo’s summer program, singing the Four Servants in Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman (2007), & Benoit and Alcindoro in Puccini’s La Boheme in 2009. Gabriel made his Phoenix Opera debut in their 2010 production of Madama Butterfly. Gabriel made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2008 with Elysium—Between Two Continents and with Pacific Encore Performances in 2009. Also in 2009, he appeared with the Whatcom Symphony in Something Wonderful at the Mount Baker Theater. He received his bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA where he studied with Davida Kagen and performed leading roles in Ernst Krenek’s Der Diktator and Hindemith’s Hin und Zuruck. He also played Alfredo in a 2005 production of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, for which The Bellingham Herald enthused about his acting. The Seattle Opera Guild has awarded him two grants, in 2005 & 2008, to further his studies. While earning his Master’s at Manhattan School of Music in NYC where he studied with Mark Oswald, Gabriel sang roles in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, and Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Gianni Schicchi. Gabriel presently studies and is being mentored by renowned character tenor, Anthony Laciura. Gabriel has taken on the role of Impresario by starting his own production company, Gabriel Gargari Productions Inc. He is producing and starring in a new-take on the traditional recital The Dress Rehearsal - a classical cabaret piece for Singer, Piano & Actor which recently had a very successful NY debut at Merkin Concert Hall. Preparations are being made for an outreach tour in New York and Washington State. He'll next be heard Washington State to perform Ariel Ramirez's Misa Criolla & Navidad Nuestra with the Whatcom Chorale on December 12th. More information at www.gabrielgargari.com