The voice of lyric tenor Ramón Vargas, a specialist in Verdi and Rossini, has been compared with that of Luciano Pavarotti. He is one of the most prominent opera singers modern Mexico has produced. A breakthrough for Vargas was a win at the 1982 Carlo Morelli National Singing Competition. Vargas made his recording debut in 1993 on a recording of Bellini's Zaira that featured Katia Ricciarelli; his solo debut came in 1996 with the album Christmas with Ramon Vargas. Vargas has appeared on many major opera releases and has issued various solo albums such as Verdi Arias (2001) and Between Friends (2004). The pace of Vargas' recording releases slowed somewhat later in his career, but in 2023, he appeared on the premiere recording of Saverio Mercadante's opera Il Proscritto.