Born in Mexico City in 1973 into an Ibero-American emigrant family, holds dual Spanish and Mexican nationalities. Carlitos begun playing the cello from an early age at the National Conservatory of Mexico, continuing education in Britain with support form British Council. Graduate of the London College of Music, he became a postgraduate conducting fellow at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama. Since then has worked with outstanding musicians like Spierer, Tortelier, Markson, Osorio, Saradjián, Truemann, Davies, Zimmerman, Seaman, López Cobos, Pehlivanian and Jurowsky.
Whilst working actively as cellist, Carlos established himself as the leading young conductor of his generation in Britain after a performance of Handel’s Messiah and during Mozart’s bicentenary, winning later the Post Office Young Conductors Award, Hugh S. Roberton and the Ralph Nordell Conducting Prize Competitions.
His professional début came in 1997 with the Athens State Orchestra and Natalia Gutman in Dvorak's concerto, conducting afterwards Elgar and Beethoven with London Symphony during a masterclass as disciple and protege of Sir Colin Davis at the Barbican Hall.
Since then Ariel has been artistic director of Glasgow University's Symphony and Choral Society, Camerata of Zacatecas, Solistas de Morelos and president of the Collegium Musicum de Galicia, reaching agreements with public and private entities in support of classical music and new talent; during the “Encontro Bienal” of Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal with European Interreg founds; in Italy with the Academy of St. Matthew's and La Orchestra di Cammera della Sardegna, which lead him to be “Cittadino Onorevole of Tuili" for his work as Kapellmeister.
Carlos has studied, researched and performed the most representative works from the common practice period repertoire with specialism on Spanish Renaissance, Mexican barroque, Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Schumann or Brahms through 20th century and contemporary music. Further collaborations include the complete edition of David Johnstone' works, the original sound track of the documentary film “La Columna de los Ochomil” or the Jazz CD "Travessia dos Poetas".
He has performed to distinguished personalities like the Duchess of Gloucester, Mexican Congress, the Vatican nuncio and other diplomats, with symphony orchestras in México; Slovenia, Texas Music Festival, the Martinu Filharmonie (Czech Republic); Genesis Ensemble (UK); Drumcliffe Sinfonia (Eire), J.O.N.D.E. (Spain) and the Lietuvos Valstybinis Simfoninis Orkestras in Vilnius, Lituania.
Ariel works extensively for the live stage in theatre and opera: after Britten’s Rape of Lucretia at the Scottish Academy, he conducted Otello's workshop for the Friends of Covent Garden; Faust with the Mayer Lissman Opera Centre; the world première in Mexico of Doña Zenaida and Wagner’s Ring Cycle as assistant of Guido Maria Guida in the National Opera; at the International Opera Contest of Madrid's Teatro Real; Lili Berlin Cabaret as well as Beauty & the Beast and Phantom of the Opera. He was appointed Music Director of "Opera dos Tres Reás" a production of the Weill-Brecht play with Luis Tosar in the leading cast.