* choose a star * -- Performing -- José Carreras - Spanish tenor Placido Domingo - Spanish tenor Mirella Freni - Italian Soprano Kiri Te Kanawa - New Zealander soprano Luciano Pavarotti - Italian tenor Bryn Terfel - Welsh baritone -- Retired -- Franco Corelli - Italian tenor Marilyn Horne - American mezzo-soprano Leontyne Price - American Soprano Giuseppe di Stefano - Italian tenor Beverly Sills - American soprano Joan Sutherland - Australian soprano -- Stars of the Past -- Jussi Bjorling - Swedish tenor Maria Callas - American soprano Enrico Caruso - Italian tenor Fyodor Chaliapin - Russian bass Tito Gobbi - Italian baritone Lotte Lehmann - German soprano Nellie Melba - Australian soprano Lauritz Melchior - Dutch Tenor Rosa Ponselle - American soprano Francesco Tamagno - Italian Tenor José Carreras - Spanish tenor Born in Barcelona, Spain 1946 Something of a child prodigy, Jose Carreras has been called one of the most gifted lyrico-spinto tenors in modern opera. After winning the prestigious Verdi singing competition in 1971 Carreras began his meteoric career, winning numerous awards and acclaim for exceptional performances. Although this gusto may have had a negative impact on his voice, in later years, Carreras continues his acclaimed career even after a bout with leukemia in 1987. Since then has dedicated much of his time to support of the José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation.