Garðar Thór Cortes, born on May 2, 1974, in Reykjavík, Iceland, is a tenor of Icelandic and English parentage. Raised in a musical family, Cortes began his career as a child actor before training as a singer in Vienna, Copenhagen, and London. His breakthrough came with the role of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End in 1999. Following this, he released his debut album Cortes in Iceland in 2005, which gained significant prominence when it was re-released in the UK on April 16, 2007, entering the UK Classical Charts at Number 1. Cortes has performed various leading tenor roles in operas and collaborated with notable figures such as his sister Nanna Maria, an operatic soprano. His career includes performances across Europe and notable engagements like singing Mendelssohn's quartets from Elijah at Carnegie Hall, New York City.
