Mexican Tenor Javier Camarena Gets Rare Encore During Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” at New York's Metropolitan Opera

Javier Camarena has achieved a rare feat at New York's Metropolitan Opera. During his performance in Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” on Friday night, the Mexican's rendition of “Si, ritrovarla io giuro” was so well-received that, following roars of applause, the Mexican opera singer was compelled to give an encore, a feat achieved by only two singers in the last fifty years. only Luciano Pavarotti and Juan Diego Flórez have ever been allowed to perform an encore on that stage.

Javeir Camarena was left breathless. “My God, it’s so exciting,” he told the New York Times backstage. “To feel this reaction from the public — it was like a big mountain of roars and bravos and applause. It’s really overwhelming. Fantastic.” It is particularly incredible given that he was actually a stand-in for Juan Diego Flórez himself - the famed tenor had to withdraw from initial performances because of illness. Mr. Camarena's entrance has been triumphant.

The New York Metropolitan Opera was packed and electric on Friday night: Mr. Camarena's performance was met with such acclaim, the ovation was so raucous that audiences were reportedly "jumping to their feet," a rare feat especially mid-performance. Mr. Camarena, who had exited the stage as the ovation continued, said: “I was waiting, because last time, there was very long applause, and I was behind the stage and was trying to think, what do I do? Do I come back, or stay? What’s going to happen?” He returned to more applause.