Famed Mexican tenor Javier Camarena performs in Vancouver at Singer Behind the Song, October 3
UBC Opera and Opera West Society copresent the celebrated “king of the high Cs”
Javier Camarena.
UBC Opera and Opera West Society present Singer Behind the Song: Javier Camarena on October 3 at 6 pm at the Old Auditorium
OPERA FANS, TAKE note: UBC Opera and the Opera West Society are collaborating to copresent acclaimed Mexican tenor Javier Camarena in its next installment of the Singer Behind the Song series. Taking place on October 3 at 6 pm at the Old Auditorium, it features the internationally acclaimed artist who is known as the “king of the high Cs”.
Camarena has performed in every major opera house in the world. In 2011, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and has since become the only singer in the history of the Met to have sung encores in three different productions, a feat he has repeated in Madrid, Barcelona, and London.
With a rich, warm timbre, he will sing and then take part in an intimate interview, giving audiences a chance to get to know the exceptional artist who in 2021 was named male singer of the year by the International Opera Awards. ![]()
Gail Johnson is cofounder of Stir. She is a Vancouver-based journalist who has earned local and national nominations and awards for her work. She is a certified Gladue Report writer via Indigenous Perspectives Society in partnership with Royal Roads University and is a member of a judging panel for top Vancouver restaurants.
Related Articles
Participating artists bring together everything from martial arts and opera to club music and Arabic melodies
At annual holiday offering, choir performs works by Matthew Whittall, Morten Lauridsen, and Joanna Marsh at Pacific Spirit United Church
Performances at Holy Rosary Cathedral and Sanctuary on 6th serve as a break from the bustle of the holiday season
Artistic director Cassie Luftspring has curated a program of Elektra favourites, new commissions, and pieces with personal meaning
Singer-songwriter has performed with the likes of Steve Earle, B.B. King, Seal, and Al Green
Quartet consists of vocalist-drummer Denzal Sinclaire, Hammond B3 organist Chris Gestrin, tenor saxophonist Cory Weeds, and guitarist Bill Coon
Festive tradition features the choir’s hallmark mix of traditional carols, world premieres, and reimagined winter classics
The local arts and culture scene has bright gifts in store this season, from music by candlelight to wintry ballets
Performances, workshops, and artist talks are in store as part of Notebook SEASON ♪ 2025
Concert proves a rare opportunity to see the acoustic-guitar master in a full-band setting with the Motivators
Spellbinding concert features the Pacific Baroque Orchestra along with soloists Myriam Leblanc, Cecilia Duarte, Jacob Perry, and Sumner Thompson
Eponymous mandolinist’s band delivers a bluegrass sound that blends original songs with old-time Appalachian music
Performance by acclaimed cello-and-lute duo for Vancouver Recital Society is poised to bring bold energy to landmarks of Baroque music
Event at Heritage Hall features vocalist-violinist Caroline Shaw, vocalist Danni Lee Parpan, percussionist Julia Chien, and pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa
Canadian artists, who both share Mohawk ancestry, write music with truth and soul
At Stirrings, strings piece explores rich contemporary territory, alongside classical Borodin and Debussy
Rising French-Algerian saxophonist opens new routes through the traditional musical map
Fantasy-filled production featuring members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra offers a timeless story that resonates with audiences of all ages
Thrilling evening features performances by Uzume Taiko, GO Taiko and Taiko 55, and Onibana Taiko
The Vancouver choir reflects on war and peace in its annual Remembrance Day concerts, featuring works by Kate Bush and former composer in residence Don Macdonald
Quintet highlights the lively sound of the Hammond B3 organ, while Toronto-based singer draws on soul and swing
Offerings include Bach’s jubilant Christmas Oratorio and annual favourite Christmas With the Bach Choir, featuring nearly 500 singers
Ahead of Where the Rivers Meet, the Juno-nominated artist reflects on a multifaceted career as performer, composer, and advocate
Conductor Joshua Weilerstein leads the concert, with a program featuring works by Shostakovich, Mozart, and Canadian composer Samy Moussa
Responding to childhood memories of war, Kurdish-American artist Pedram Baldari forges dulcimers and woodwinds from decommissioned firearms
Christ Church Cathedral performance by the renowned Vancouver musician’s latest project will blend intercultural virtuosity with poetry from a troubled Middle East
Easing off some of the more disturbing themes and melodrama, the production feels somehow lighter, stripped-down, and relatably human
Program also features George Benjamin’s Concerto for Orchestra, dedicated to the memory of British composer Oliver Knussen
One of the weirdest Hollywood films ever made helped bring local bandleader Scott McLeod back to shadowy instrumental soundscapes
Kari Turunen directs 10 singers in a concert of English sacred music composed during the late 15th century
