Xavier Rivera to make two debuts

Xavier Rivera

Budding talent Xavier Rivera, who will make a return appearance in our 2015 Barihunks Charity Calendar, is slated to make his role debut as Schaunard in Puccini's La bohème. The 24-year-old singer, who is currently based in San Francisco, will return to his native country for two performances of the piece with the Teatro de la Opera de Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Kamal Khan and the cast features soprano Anaís Mejías as Mimi, José Daniel Mojica as Rodolfo, Elizabeth Rodríguez as Musetta, César Menendez as Marcello and César Torruela as Colline. Performances are on November 13 and 15.

Before heading to Puerto Rico, he'll make his official West Coast debut in Mozart's Requiem with the Oakland Youth Orchestra in Walnut Creek, California. He'll be joined by soprano Shawnette Sulker, mezzo Lisa Chavez and tenor Gabriel Liboiron-Cohen. Omid Zoufonoun, the Youth Orchestra’s new Principal Conductor will be making his debut in this concert in a program that includes Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Bruch's Violin Concerto with Jessica Cao. Tickets are just $15 and are available online.

Earlier this year, Rivera sang the Requiem with the Orquestra Sinfònica de Puerto Rico in a cast that also featured José Daniel Mojica, who will join him in the La bohème performances.