Countertenor
World
Uruguayan countertenor Agustín Pennino is recognized for his captivating dramatic presence and radiant vocal color, marking him as a promising talent of his generation. He has been admitted to Royal Academy Opera for the season 2025/26.
Despite is very young age, he has already beaten the boards of Uruguay’s premier stages with such roles as Orfeo in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice at the Sodre Auditorium (award winner as Best Opera Production in Uruguay by Premios Florencio), Oreste in Offenbach’s La belle Hélène, Spirit in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas at the prestigious Teatro Solís and the title role in Händel’s Serse. He also pappeared as a soloist at renowned festivals, including La Escena Vocal at Sala Verdi, Gala Latinoamericana at Sodre Auditorium (Organized by the Royal Opera House), El Viaje del Contratenor at Sodre, among others.
In 2023, Pennino was invited to Carnegie Hall for masterclasses with Joyce DiDonato, following his selection for the Opera Workshop organized by the UK’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House in collaboration with Uruguay’s Sodre and InterArte. His development has been guided by esteemed mentors such as David Gowland, Yvonne Kenny, Rosa Dominguez, Satoshi Kubo, and André Heller-Lopes, complemented by masterclasses with Kamal Khan, Nicky Spence, Leandro Marziotte, and Maurizio Colacicchi.
Agustín Pennino’s studies include training at renowned institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, Universidad de la República, and Escuela Nacional de Formación Artística–Escuela Nacional de Arte Lírico. His artistic development has been guided by distinguished mentors, including Michael Chance, Marcus van den Akker, Jonathan Papp, Beatriz Lozano, Sofía Mara, Lea Amaro, and Raquel Pierotti.
Pennino’s talent has been acknowledged internationally: he was awarded first prize in the 2024 international “ANEMOS” competition in Rome, where past winners include Rosa Feola and Jessica Pratt. That same year, he received third prize at the Stignani Competition and a “Highly Commended” mention at the Blyth-Buesst Operatic Prize from the Royal Academy of Music, solidifying his standing as an emerging artist of distinction.
In May 2025 he will sing Ottone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea at Teatro Mayor de Bogotà.
