RICARDO LEDESMA (Jesús Quiñones Ledesma)

DRAMATIC TENOR

Tenor Ricardo Ledesma, a true dramatic tenor, studied in Italy with Apollo Granforte, the renowned and famous baritone.

He won the auditions at the LITTA THEATER in Milan and later for the ASSOCIAZIONE LIRICO CONCERTISTA ITALIANA, which afforded him the opportunity of opening the season at the NUOVO THEATER in Milan, where he appeared in Mascagni’s LODOLETTA. At that time he was 19 years of age. His success and good reviews opened for him the LYRIC THEATERS of Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, where he subsequently sang for a number of years.

Ledesma has had tremendous success in the roles of MANRICO, OTELLO, CANIO, RHADAMES, TURIDDU, and LUIGI in Puccini’s ILTABARRO, which he has sung in Puerto Rico, and the Americas. Since his arrival in the continental United States, he had very successful appearances with ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL in Providence, Rhode Island, THE PERFORMING ART SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, THE REPERTOIRE OPERA COMPANY OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, OPERA O.T.S. of LONG ISLAND, in Reno with the NEVADA OPERA ASSOCIATION AND TODAY’S ARTISTS CONCERT (Annual Artists Series) in San Francisco California, among many of his presentations.

On his CARNEGIE HALL debut Bill Zakariassen of the Daily News writes:

"Ricardo Ledesma’s voice bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the late Richard Tucker."

Amsterdam News reviewer Raoul Abdoul says:

"Ledesma showed the kind of talent, which deserves to be heard on major operatic stages." Mr. Abdoul also mentions: "The excellent musico-dramatic achievements of Ricardo Ledesma’s."

R.E. Diamond, Opera News

In one of his reviews, Opera News refers to his performance in Reno, Nevada singing the role of RHADAMES in AIDA: "Ricardo Ledesma sang and acted the role of RHADAMES heroically, filling the theater with his big robust tenor."

A.J. Collins San Juan Star:   As OTELLO: "Ricardo Ledesma’s OTELLO was a powerful figure, with a stage presence as imposing as Sir Laurence Olivier’s"

Thomas P. Lanier Opera News   "…The excitingly sung title role by tenor Ricardo Ledesma, which doubtless would have pleased his late compatriot Antonio Paoli…"

José A. Cadilla, El Vocero

In IL TABARRO: "His acting was so powerful and overflowing it verged on a crisis of passion."

L. Cevetillo, Westchester Rockland Newspaper:

As PAGLIACCI: "Tenor Ricardo Ledesma’s debut in the role of CANIO eclipsed the memory of all other CANIOS since the days of Mario del Monaco."

Ricardo Ledesma as CANIO in I Pagliacci,

with the Westchester Opera Company

William Carroll Schwartz, Opera News

"Pagliacci was made notable by the New York debut of tenor Ricardo Ledesma as CANIO. His voice at full volume has impact and vitality, but he also knows how to sing pianissimo and can shape a phrase expressively."