Introducing Basque Barihunk Gilen Goicoechea

Gilen Goicoechea

A reader suggested Gilen Goicoechea to us, who they saw at the Concours International de Chant Lyrique last Fall.  Goicoechea will be singing in the double bill of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Ravel's L'Heure Espagnole at the Opéra national de Lorraine from September 27 to October 6. He'll be performing Betto and Ramiro respectively and tickets are available online.

The Basque barihunk began by studying trumpet and piano before switching to voice  at the Conservatoire du Grand Avignon. At school, he performed in Offenbach's Le voyage dans la lune and Auber's Fra Diavolo.  

In October 2011, he participated in the Festival Cap Opéra bouffe de Sauveterre, where he played the  Aime in Valérie Marestin's comedic scenes "Les cocottes lyriques." The performance led to an offer to perform in Charles Lecocq's opéra-bouffe Le testament de monsieur Crac at the Festival d'Avignon. Next season he'll perform Monsieur Troundadisse in Sauget's Tistou les pouces verts and Benoit in Puccini's La bohème at Opéra de Rouen.
 
He is a past winner of the Grand concours d'opérette amateur, and was a finalist in vocal competitions in Bezier, Arles and Nimes.