Becoming Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra
Opera Rara's recent recording of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra with Sir Mark Elder and The Hallé not only offered a rare opportunity to hear the original 1857 version of the score in all its glory, but also introduced many of us to a thrilling new talent in the shape of Germán Enrique Alcántara, who stepped into the title-role at the eleventh hour and covered himself in glory. The Financial Times applauded the young Argentinian's 'grit and authority' as the troubled Doge of Genoa, whilst Gramophone deemed him 'utterly equal to all aspects of the role' and compared his 'warm, easy' baritone to that of Renato Bruson.
In May 2025, Presto Music interviewed Germán ahead of the world premiere studio recording release of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra in its original 1857 version. Recorded the previous year in the studio with Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé, Germán had stepped in at short notice with only a week before the rehearsals and recording sessions started in Manchester. The one-off concert performance at Bridgewater Hall received five stars from many of the UK’s leading publications including The Daily Telegraph who said: Germán Enrique Alcántara as Boccanegra himself was magnificently drawn as tortured man who sings that fire burns through his veins and finally consumes.
Since its release in March 2025, Germán’s Simon Boccanegra release has been voted one of the Best Classical Albums of 2025 by The New York Times, The Arts Desk, The Times, Gramophone and Presto Music; and nominated for Gramophone, International Opera and International Classical Music Awards. And top it all off, Presto Music created a special category in December 2025 to celebrate Germán’s achievement by awarding him Presto Music’s Recording Debut of the Year with these words:
Our traditional 'Debut Album' award gets a slight rebrand this year in recognition of the extraordinary big-match temperament displayed by this young Argentinian baritone, who stepped into the daunting title-role of Boccanegra on barely a week's notice - having never sung a major Verdi role or made a commercial recording before. And he emerges with flying colours, both as the young firebrand of the Prologue and the elder statesman of the opera proper.
Read Germán’s interview here: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/articles/6510--interview-german-enrique-alcantara-on-simon-boccanegra
And click the image below to discover behind-the-scenes clips from the recording sessions:
