José Carreras is one of the most esteemed operatic tenors of the 20th century, known for his warm lyrical voice and exceptional interpretations of roles in operas by composers such as Verdi, Puccini, and Donizetti. He was born on December 5, 1946, in Barcelona and displayed remarkable musical talent from an early age—performing on national radio at the age of eight and making his operatic debut at eleven at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. His international career flourished in the 1970s, with performances at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including Milan’s La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Vienna State Opera.
He reached widespread global recognition in 1990 when he joined forces with Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti to form the legendary trio The Three Tenors. Their first concert, held in Rome during the FIFA World Cup, became the best-selling classical album of all time and brought opera to millions of new listeners worldwide.
In 1987, Carreras was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia but miraculously recovered after intensive treatment. In gratitude, he established the José Carreras Leukaemia Foundation the following year, which continues to support research, encourage bone marrow donation, and offer assistance to patients battling the disease. Beyond his artistic legacy, Carreras has left a profound humanitarian mark.
