About this Artist

Venezuelan baritone Gustavo Castillo was born in 1989 in Barquisimeto. At an early age, he was part of the National System of Youth Orchestras and Choirs of the Caribbean country and began his singing studies with the renowned tenor Ídwer Álvarez. Thanks to his outstanding vocal and interpretative skills, he was awarded a scholarship to pursue advanced studies at the prestigious Accademia del Teatro alla Scala, during the 2016-2018 biennium, with teachers such as Eva Mei, Luciana D’Intino, Renato Bruson, Luciana Serra, and Gregory Kunde, becoming the first Venezuelan in the history of the renowned institution to enter the exclusive lyric song program.

At only 25 years of age, Castillo made his debut in the operatic world in La Bohème, where he played the role of Schaunard. This role was followed by numerous appearances in different national and international productions, including Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Sacristan in Tosca, and Belcore in L’elisir d’amore. Other roles in his repertoire include Valentin in Ópera Fausto by Diana Daniele and Mandarino in Turandot.

The promising Venezuelan baritone has already sung numerous solo performances in national and international concerts, among which the Requiems by W.A. Mozart, A. Faist, M. Duruflé, and G. Fauré; the Mozart Coronation Mass, the Bach Magnificat, the Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Carmina Burana by Orff, and Cantata Criolla by Antonio Estévez, among others.

Gustavo Castillo has worked with renowned conductors such as Andrea Brown, Gustavo Dudamel, Nello Santi, Myun-Whun Chung, Pietro Mianiti, Jonathan Brandani, Marc Albrecht, Robert Göstl, Paolo Carignani, Daniel Harding, Marco Guidarini, Evelino Pidò, and James Burton.

As a member of the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala, his most recent engagements include numerous performances in the Teatro alla Scala, in such different roles as Peter in Hänsel und Gretel, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Thamar in Ali Baba e i 40 Ladroni, as well as Dandini in La Cenerentola and Brutamonte in Fierrabras; other productions in Tuscany, Italy, include Sharpless in Madama Butterfly and Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. In 2018, Castillo competed for the role of Foscari in Il Bravo, a production organized by the Wexford Opera Festival, Ireland; his outstanding participation was awarded with the “Aria friend’s bursary” award, given by festival director David Agler.

The 2019/20 season includes engagements as Peter in Hänsel und Gretel at Teatro Lirico di Cagliari (Italy) on tour with the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor in Oviedo, and Marcello in La Bohème in Japan, as well as numerous concerts and private recitals.