He specializes in Italian and French 19th-century operatic roles to which he brings a finely-tuned dramatic temperament. As a youth in Mexico, he sang baritone roles in zarzuela (musical theatre), moving up to tenor as a member of the Israel National Opera 1961-64. Since his New York debut 1965 he has established a world reputation as a sympathetic leading tenor, and has made many films including the 1988 version of Puccini's Tosca set in Rome, and the 1990 Zeffirelli production of Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci/The Strolling Players. He also sang with Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti in a recording of operatic hits released to coincide with the World Cup soccer series in Rome 1990, and again in the USA 1994. A member of a musical family, he emigrated to Mexico in 1950. In 1986 he starred in the film version of Otello. Sung his first Parsifal at the New York Met, 1991.
