Berganza, Teresa

To my friends in Madrid, it’s a pleasure to introduce Mrs. Teresa Berganza.
Teresa Berganza is the artistic name of Teresa Vargas. She was born in Madrid on March 16th 1935. That means she is 73 years old. When people has this age specially a woman and looks as well as Mrs. Berganza I think it must make public loudly. Only for that reason I already like her.
No doubt, Teresa Berganza has been the more internationally known Spanish mezzosoprano. Her debut, outside Spain, was on 1957 at Aix-en-Provence on 1957 performing Dorabella from Cosí fan Tutte. She performed a lot of Mozart’s operas one of her greatest roles was Querubino (Le nozze di Figaro). But Berganza not only sang Mozart, her great vocal agility was perfect for Rossini’s roles. Her debut at New York (Carnegie Hall) was with Rossini’s Cenerentola.

On 1964 she sang the same role in Madrid her home (Teatro de la Zarzuela). On 1963 she debuted in London (Royal Opera House) singing Il Barbieri de Siviglia with the same roles she debuts at Milan (La Scala) on 1969.

Here, in my “home” she comes a bit late 1971. Xavier Montsalvatge composer and musical critical of La Vanguardia, must wait until February 3th 1971 for writing “never is late when it comes” Berganza comes to Barcelona dressed up Cenerentola, she came and she triumphed

Teresa Berganza reached world recognition after her performance at Edimburgo on 1979 in Carmen (Bizet). Now you can enjoy with Teresa Berganza and Placido Domingo performing “Les Remparts de Seville”. Opera audience used to receive with a special pleasure Madama Butterfly when the main character is performed by a Japanese singer, (if she sings well, off course) in the same way Carmen’s role seems composed for a Spanish singer (Ok Grace Bumbry was not Spanish). Enjoy with this unforgettable Carmen.

On 1981 the Joseph Losey choose Berganza to star Zerlina from Don Giovanni. Since nineties Teresa Berganza focus her activities on recitals. On October 2002 she visited for the last time the Gran Teatre del Liceu, with her daughter Cecilia Lavilla singer as her mother. Also, Berganza has spent a lot of time helping the new voices. Now you can see first off all a young Teresa singing the famous aria “Una voce poco fa” (Il barbiere de Siviglia -Rossini) and giving a masterclass about the same aria.

Enjoy it, and see you.