José Carreras was born Josep Maria i Coll on December 5, 1946 in on the Mediterranean coast in Barcelona, Spain. José’s love for singing began when he was just a young boy. José wrote in his autobiography that when he was just six years old he saw the film entitled “The Great Caurso” starring Mario Lanza, the American tenor and film star. Carreras recalls being so inspired by the performance of Lanza that he began learning and singing arias on his own. Following this passion allowed him to sing Giuseppi Verdi’s “Le donna e mobile” on national radio at the tender age of seven. At the encouragement of his Grandfather, Salvador Coll, an amateur baritone, José began developing his talents at the Barcelona Conservatory, where he enrolled at the age of eight. José made his operatic stage debut at the age of eleven when he sang the boy soprano role of Trujaman in Manuel de Falla’s opera “El retablo de maese Pedro”(Master Peter’s Puppet Show), a one act libretto based on “Don Quixote”.

Throughout his teen years, José took private voice lessons with Francisco Puig and also with the man whom Carreras would later describe as his “artistic father”, Juan Ruax. Despite his natural ability and early success Carreras’ father felt that José should have another option for a career and encouraged him to attend university. José obliged his father for two years, studying chemistry at the University of Barcelona. But Carreras knew his true calling and left the university to concentrate on his singing. Carreras was cast in a production of Vincenzo Bellini’s “Norma” at the Barcelona Liceo in 1970 and it was at that time that he met the opera star, soprano Montserrat Caballé, who took an interest in Carreras and helped him further his career.

Career

Caballé asked José to sing Gennaro with her in the 1970 production of Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Borgia”. Carreras considers this performance to be his true debut as a tenor. It was not long before Carreras would take the international stage and in 1971 he did a concert performance on “Maria Stuarda” at the Royal Festival Hall in London; appearing again with Montserrat Caballé. Caballé encouraged José for many years and they performed in fifteen operas together. Carlos Caballé, Montserrat’s brother, became Carreras manager and held the role well into the 1990’s. Carreras’ career moved quickly along and by the mid-1970’s he was an internationally acclaimed tenor. Carreras made his American debut in 1972 when he took the role of Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly” with the New York City opera. There were other debuts to follow- the San Francisco Opera in 1973 and the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company later that same year. In 1974 Carreras performed at  the Vienna Staatsoper, the Royal Opera House in London, and the New York Metropolitan Opera. By the time he was twenty eight Carreras had sung the tenor lead in twenty four different operas in both Europe and North America. At this time Carreras also signed a contract with Philips who recorded Carreras in the Verdi operas “ll Corsaro”, “l due Foscari”, “La battaglia di Legnano”, “Un giorno di regno”, and “Stiffelio”.

In 1987 Carreras was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although Carreras chances for survival were thin he underwent treatment that included chemotherapy, radiation therapy and an autologous bone marrow transplant; all in an effort to combat the deadly disease. Carreras did recover and gradually returned to the operatic stage.