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Jorge Ocasio

About Me


Jorge Ocasio signs La Calunnia 9/17/06 New Rochelle, NY
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Jorge Ocasio and Rosa Betancourt sing duet from L'elisir d'Amore 4/3/08 San Juan, Puerto Rico
With his "deep, warm bass voice and an informed musicality" Jorge Ocasio, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico; is quickly becoming a favorite of audiences and critics. Most recently, he received glowing reviews for his Dulcamara with Opera Brooklyn and The Regina Opera Company, and for his Commendatore in New York.
One critic wrote of his informed characterization as Dulcamara: "Ocasio steals the show in 'Elixir.' The role of Dr. Dulcamara was vividly brought to life by Jorge Ocasio who, like the great singing actor Tito Gobbi, could instantly grip the audience's attention. Ocasio, with his lustrous dark basso and perfect operatic stagecraft charmed us all with his 'Udite, udite, o rustici.' Ocasio's Act 2 duet with Adina was great fun! Ocasio recalled the memory of the great Baccaloni, who was an unforgettable Dulcamara. (Of course Ocasio is much slimmer.)"
Recently, he has been heard as Leporello with El Dorado Opera in Los Angeles. And made his company début with Houston's Opera in the Heights as Dulcamara in January 2007. He returned to Opera in the Heights where he reprised his appealing Leporello in March with glowing reviews. With Little Opera Company of NJ he performed his hilarious Dottor Bartolo in Barber of Seville, role he reprised for Opera al Fresco in San Juan, Puerto Rico in August receiving excellent reviews.
In San Juan he was also part of the Festival Iberoamericano de las Artes as Nuño in the opera Macias by Felipe Gutierrez y Espinosa. He returned to his home town to be part of the historic debut in Puerto Rico of Puccini's Il Trittico where he performed the roles of Talpa in Tabarro and Simone in Gianni Schicchi with great acclaim.
Mr. Ocasio is a favorite with Manhattan's Chelsea Opera. were he has performed the role of Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors in various ocassions including performances in Los Angeles, California.
Other performance highlights include principal roles in Puerto Rico's acclaimed Puccini Gala and in New York's hugely popular Verdi Marathon, appearances with the X Festival of Music where he sang Bach's humorous "Coffee Cantata" in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and with the the Baroque Ensemble of New York; a dizzy Sacristan with Aprile Millo as Tosca at Connecticut Grand Opera, role he repreised on a television broadcasts of Tosca with Opera de Puerto Rico, and the title role in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro in Rome, Italy.
Mr. Ocasio débuted in New York City as Osmin in Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio and as Dr. Bartolo in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and was enthusiastically lauded for his appearances in Puerto Rico as guest soloist in APTEL's Annual Concert Tour singing selections from the rich traditions of Zarzuela and Latin-American Art Song throughout the island.
Jorge Ocasio has performed as concert soloist with the Camerata Choral of Puerto Rico in Haydn's Missa Santi-Nicolai and Michael Haydn's Requiem, with the Coro Sinfónico of Puerto Rico, Händel's beloved Messiah, as well as the Mozart Requiem and Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem throughout the New York area. While working with the International Vocal Arts Institute he portrayed Don Geronimo in Enzo Dara's production of Cimarosa's Il Matrimonio Segreto in Tel-Aviv, Israel conducted by Maestro Martin Issep.
Most recently he perfromed the role of Dulcamara with Opera for Humanity and with Teatro de la Opera in San Juan, Puerto Rico receiving great reviews and made his Carnegie Hall debut with Distinguished Concerts International singing Mozart's Coronation Mass and Haydn's Missa Sancti Nicolai. He returned to sing the role of Raimondo in Opera for Humanity's Lucia di Lammermmor at Symphony Space in NYC (Oct. 08). Future engagements include Beethoven 9th Symphony with Chartlotesville Consort in Mach 09, Sarastro in The Magic Flute with Bronx Opera (May 09) and Alidoro in La Cenerentola with Idaho Opera (Sept. 09)
Mr. Ocasio studies voice with Mrs. Leyna Gabriele in New York City and is represented exclusively worldwide by Mrs. Celia Novo , President and Founder of Novo Artists Inc .
Biography taken from Jorge's Novo Artists website page.
BACKGROUD PICTURE: Commendatore by Beth Bergman

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 26/08/2006
Band Website: http://novoartists.com/ocasio.html
Influences: Cesare Siepi, Ezio Pinza, Bonaldo Giaiotti, Justino Diaz, Samuel Ramey, George London, Titto Gobbi, Paul Plishka, Boris Christoff, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Robert Loyd, Sesto Bruscantini, Salvatore Baccaloni, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Kurt Moll, Aprile Millo, Maria Esther Robles, Susan Young, Mark Oswald, Leyna Gabriele.

First voice teacher: Maria Esther Robles R.I.P.

Voice teacher: Leyna Gabriele Creator of the role of Baby Doe in Douglas Stuart Moore's "Ballad of Baby Doe" 1956

Manager: Celia Novo President and Founder of Novo Artists Inc.
Sounds Like: ..
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.. PRESS ACCLAIM

Magic Flute/Bronx Opera/New York City

"Two standouts within the production came from the supporting cast: Jorge Ocasio as Sarastro, High Priest of the Temple has easily one of the most powerful presences on that stage and his deep rich bass-baritone voice only secured that image. The Temple Priests had a very difficult job – here is where too many notes come in. There are long orchestral sections upon their entrances and filling the stage was the first order. Ocasio was able to do this with ease. Each stride or turn was energizing."

Erica Vasaturo and Fran Bacine- Outer Stage- May 26th, 2009 L'Elisir d'Amore/ Puerto Rico


"La hilaridad del personaje de Dulcamara, magníficamente bien interpretado por Jorge Ocasio."

"The hilarity of the role of Dulcamara was magnificently portrayed by Jorge Ocasio."

Luis Hernández Mergal - El Nuevo Día - April 5, 2008

"Jorge Ocasio demostró seguridad en 'Udite, udite, o rustici.'"

"Jorge Ocasio demonstrated security in his 'Udite, udite, o rustici.'"

Víctor R. Castro - El Vocero - April 7, 2008

IL TRITTICO/ PUERTO RICO

Jorge Ocasio as Talpa is up to the task of the henpecked husband of la Frugola. He reappears in excellent characterization as Simone in Gianni Schicchi adding to the excellent ensemble work of that operatic farce."

Peggy Ann Bliss- The San Juan Star- October 27, 2007

IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA/ PUERTO RICO

Memorable “El Barbero” en Ballajá

Memorable "Barber" in Ballaja

El realizado bajo bufo Jorge Ocasio, llenó los zapatos del viejo verde y ladino “Dr. Bartolo” con gusto y desenfado. Aunque se sintió algo tibio en las primeras escenas, pronto demostró el dominio de sus capacidades de cantante y actor, y la agilidad de su instrumento.

The excel basso buffo Jorge Ocasio filled the shoes of the old grumpy and cagey "Dr. Bartolo" with taste and ease. Even though he was a little cold during his first scenes, he soon displayed the mastery of his capabilities as a singer and actor and the agility of his instrument.

Ileana Cidoncha-El Vocero-August 13th 2007

Jorge Ocasio hizo un Doctor Bartolo en la mejor tradición bufa, cantando con endemoniada rapidez.

Jorge Ocasio performed a Dottor Bartolo with an excellent buffo tradition, singing with incredible speed.

No es cuestión de chauvinismo, pero realmente da orgullo pensar que se haya podido presentar una función de tan alto nivel de una ópera tan compleja contando con un elenco totalmente puertorriqueño, cada uno digno de presentarse en las mejores salas del mundo.


It is not chauvinistic, but it is really formidable the fact that it was possible to put such a high level performance of such a difficult piece with an all puertorrican cast, each and every one worthy of performing on the best stages in the world.

Antonio Salgado especial para en Rojo-Claridad-August 23, 2007

OPERA MAGAZINE UK

"Jorge Ocasio revelled in Dulcamara's bubbly patter..."

William Albright on Opera in the Heights Elisir d'Amore-June 2007

AS LEPORELLO IN MOZART'S DON GIOVANNI Houston, Texas/ March '07

"Andrew Nolen as Don Giovanni and Jorge Ocasio as his servant Leporelloespecially distinguished themselves, but the whole cast performed well.

Chester Rosson-Texas Monthly-July 2007

Don Giovanni - The best production to date from Opera in the Heights!

"Jorge Ocasio (toadying servant Leporello) has rich vaudevillian comic timing with voice to match -"

Lee Williams and D. L. Groover - Houston Press - March 29, 2007

"Jorge Ocasio brings a solid voice, down-to-earth air and sardonic touch to his asides as Giovanni's long-suffering servant Leporello."

Everett Evans - Houston Chronicle - March 24, 2007

AS IL COMMNENDATORE IN DON GIOVANNI

El Museo del Barrio, New York City:

"most effective alongside Jorge Ocasio's imposing and well sung Commendatore."

Vivien Schweitzer - New York Times - July 24, 2006

AS DULCAMARA AT REGINA OPERA (New York City - April '06)

"The role of Dr. Dulcamarawas vividly brought to life by Jorge Ocasio who, like the great singing actor Tito Gobbi, could instantly grip the audience's attention. Ocasio, with his lustrous dark basso and perfect operatic stagecraft charmed us all with his 'Udite, udite, o rustici' in which he gets the attention of the country folk to sell his magical elixir, with cures for everything from warts to infertility. The sight of Dulcamara with his open black cloak with row upon row of bottles of all sorts was a sight to behold! His shenanigans with the gullible townspeople, including some amusing interplay with chorus members, was most amusing. Ocasio's Act 2 duet with Adina was great fun! Ocasio recalled the memory of the great Baccaloni, who was an unforgettable Dulcamarra. (Of course Ocasio is much slimmer.)"

Nino Pantano - The Italian Review - April 2006

"Jorge Ocasio, who sang Dulcamara in all four performances of this challenging role, proved himself a master of rythm as well as precise diction. His Dulcamara was hilarious in his effort to dupe the villagers into buying the phony elixir."

Susan Carlson - Boro Park News - April 2006
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

Don Giovanni in Texas!

Hi everyone! Wow, it has been quite a while since my last update and I apologize for that. In my behalf I can only say I have been very busy. After my return from Texas where I sang in Elixir of Love ...
Posted by on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 15:03:00 GMT

Going to texas Monday!!!!

Hi guys! Just want to let you know I am flying to Houston, Texas this coming monday. I was hired to sing the role of Dulcamara in Opera in the Heights's new production of Donizetti's "The Elixir of Lo...
Posted by on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 11:33:00 GMT

Thanksgiving and Amahl in California.

Just a quick update. I am back in NY after spending Thanksgiving with my family in Puerto Rico. I had a great time and above all I had the chance to relax and to rest. It was a week that was totally f...
Posted by on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:09:00 GMT

Don Giovanni in CA

Well, I have been back from Los Angeles for almost two weeks now and I have to say El Dorado Opera "Don Giovanni" in Los Angeles, California was a success. But it was a success that took a lot of work...
Posted by on Fri, 10 Nov 2006 10:31:00 GMT

Don Giovanni in NJ!

Well, this past weekend I sang Leporello in Don Giovanni with Little Opera of NJ in Union, New Jersey. After a semi-chaotic dress rehearsals all was good for the first show. I have to say this is a ro...
Posted by on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:10:00 GMT

Featured @ Opera News!

My agent called me tuesday to let me know that she got copy of Opera News October 2006 issue in the mail. For those of you who don't know, Opera News is one of the most important magazines of opera in...
Posted by on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 04:30:00 GMT

New developments!

This are the latest news regarding my whereabouts and what I will be doing for the next couple of months:1) I got a new gig! I will be singing Leporello with Little Opera Company of New Jersey in...
Posted by on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 12:42:00 GMT

Welcome to MySpace!!!

To all of you who want to follow my artistic footsteps, I created with the invaluable help of my dear friend Benjamin Marcantoni this MySpace page so you can all join me on this fabulous journey! Sit ...
Posted by on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:25:00 GMT