José Ansaldi is a Chilean-Italian tenor specializing in Wagnerian repertoire. Residing today between Vienna, Austria, and Alicante, Spain, he began his musical journey at the Conservatorio de Música Isidor Handler in Viña del Mar, Chile. He continued his studies in Europe, initially moving to Barcelona, where he joined the Cor Jove del Palau de la Música Catalana and began taking private lessons, marking the start of his professional development.

In the early stages of his career, José Ansaldi performed as a lyric tenor under the stage name Leon De La Guardia. He debuted in Spain as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen and went on to perform prominent roles such as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Luigi in Il Tabarro, Ismaele in Verdi’s Nabucco, Arvino in I Lombardi, Alfredo in La Traviata, and Macduff in Macbeth. He sang on prestigious European stages, including the Rudolfinum in Prague, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, the Teatro Arriaga in Bilbao, the Arena di Verona, and the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari. In North America, he debuted with a concert at Sun Valley Opera, followed by a successful performance as Rodolfo at Opera Kelowna, Canada.

As a young singer, José Ansaldi received three significant scholarships, allowing him to participate in masterclasses with internationally renowned artists such as Jaume Aragall, Carlos Álvarez, Isabel Rey, Juan Oncina, Gianni Maffeo, Angelo Loforese, Nicola Martinucci, Gianfranco Cécchele, and Salvatore Fisichella. These experiences were crucial in shaping his artistry. Furthermore, José received valuable guidance from his regular teachers, including Michael Rhodes, noted teacher of Jonas Kaufmann in Trier, Antonio Carangelo, and Laura Briolli, with whom he continues to work to this day.

In recent years, José transitioned to Wagnerian repertoire, performing under his birth name to reflect his shift towards heavier roles. This change has underscored his powerful Heldentenor voice. He now studies with Jendrik Springer, assistant to Christian Thielemann at the Bayreuth Festival and Philippe Jordan at the Vienna Staatsoper. Recognizing his potential, José Ansaldi received the prestigious Ramón Vinay Scholarship from the Wagner Foundation in Chile and the FIA Scholarship from the Ibáñez Atkinson Foundation in 2021 and 2022. His Wagnerian repertoire includes Siegmund (Die Walküre), Loge (Das Rheingold), Parsifal (Parsifal), and Siegfried (Siegfried).

In 2022, José debuted in the University of Karlsruhe’s production Wider das Verlöschen, where his portrayal of the lead male role received high praise from Prof. Dr. Stephan Mösch, who highlighted his „vocal color, artistic empathy with Wagner’s characters, and powerful creative force.“

José Ansaldi’s German debut as Siegmund in Die Walküre under conductor Marcus Bosch was met with great success, making him only the second Chilean tenor to perform this role in Germany. In June 2024, he further cemented his reputation with a critically acclaimed performance as Der Kaiser in Richard Strauss’s Die Frau Ohne Schatten at the Neuköllner Oper in Berlin.