Raquel Ramírez Barquero
Mezzo-soprano

Raquel began her musical studies with her mother, Amelia Barquero. In 1993 she continued to study with her aunt Zamira Barquero, with whom she completed her Bachelor of musical arts at the University of Costa Rica, in 2000, the licenciatura 2001 and this year , 2007 the Master in voice.

Raquel has participated in master classes with several renowned singers and teachers such as Gwen Curatilo, Donna Roll, Raquel Cortina, Elmer Thomas, Alberto Grau, Enrico Di Giuseppe and Luis Giron.

In 1998 she won first place at the prestigious Musicalia 98, at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Habana Cuba. In 1999 she won the first place in the youth soloists competition with our National Symphony of Costa Rica. In 2001, she was awarded first prize at the International Vocal Competition in Trujillo, Peru, and an honorable mention at the fist Iberamerican Competition of voice in Guanajuato, Mexico. In 2002, she was awarded National Prize of Music of Costa Rica.

In 2002 she participated in the Francisco Viñas Vocal Competiton in Barcelona, Spain, in the second Round and completed courses in opera with soprano Virginia Zeanni, and in German Song with Dalton Baldwin.

Raquel has participated with Compañia Lirica Nacional of Costa Rica and others Companies over the years in the productions of Rigoletto(Magdalena) , Barber of Seville(Berta), Macbeth(Dama), Madama Butterfly(Suzuki), Carmen(Mercedes)in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Don Giovani(Doña Elvira)in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Traviata (Flora) in Costa Rica and in Panama, and has also in Guatemala Macbeth, Il Trovatore (Inés) in Guatemala, and Aida (Amneris), Falstaff (Mistress Quicly) in Costa Rica and Guatemala. Musical performece “Razur”, “Lacrimosa” and “Isla de los Cipreses” of Stefano Poda and of Zarzuela “Luisa Fernanda” (Luisa).

She has been a frequent guest soloist of National Symphony of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Colombia and others orchestras season concerts, performing works such as Durufle’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, Misa de Coronación of Mozart, Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s C Major Mass and Symphony N 9, the world premier of Bacalov’s Misa Tango, Bach’s Magnificat, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mendelsohn’s Elijah, and Mahler’s Symphony N 2 and N 3 and Eines farehnden Gesellen and Rückert Lieder of Mahler, Stabat Mater of Pergolessi and Rossini..

She has been invited as guest soloist and recitalist to California, U.S.A , Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Salvador and Spain.

Raquel Ramírez