30 Facts About Teresa Berganza

Teresa Berganza Vargas OAXS was a Spanish mezzo-soprano.

Teresa Berganza is most closely associated with roles such as Rossini's Rosina and La Cenerentola, and later Bizet's Carmen, admired for her technical virtuosity, musical intelligence, and beguiling stage presence.

Teresa Berganza appeared as Zerlina in Joseph Losey's Don Giovanni film in 1979.

Teresa Berganza participated in the opening ceremonies of the Expo '92 in Seville and of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Teresa Berganza was born in Madrid on 16 March 1933.

Teresa Berganza studied piano and voice at the Madrid Royal Conservatory, voice with Lola Rodriguez Aragon, where she was awarded first prize for singing in 1954.

Teresa Berganza made her concert debut in Madrid in 1955.

Teresa Berganza made her operatic debut as Dorabella in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte in 1957 at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.

Teresa Berganza first appeared at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1958, as Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, and later in the title role of Rossini's La Cenerentola.

In 1959, Teresa Berganza made her first appearance at the Royal Opera House as Cherubino, and the following year performed there as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, which became one of her signature roles.

Teresa Berganza repeated it at the Opernhaus Zurich, where she returned in 1979 as Charlotte in Massenet's Werther.

Teresa Berganza appeared in the US first in 1958, at the Dallas Opera as Isabella in Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri and then as Neris in Cherubini's Medee alongside Maria Callas in the title role.

Teresa Berganza returned for Rosina the following year, first in a telecast performance conducted by Richard Bonynge, alongside Mario Sereni as Figaro, Luigi Alva and Fernando Corena as Bartolo.

Teresa Berganza is certainly the most charming Rosina at the Met since her compatriot Victoria de los Angeles.

Short and dark, if not exactly petite, Miss Teresa Berganza is quite enchanting to look at, a pleasant if not volatile actress, and a singer of great style and skill.

Teresa Berganza was a leading singer for a renaissance of Rossini's operas, returning the roles to the original lower register according to critical editions by Alberto Zedda, promoted by conductors such as Claudio Abbado and Charles Mackerras.

Teresa Berganza appeared at the 1977 Edinburgh Festival as Bizet's Carmen, conducted by Abbado, regarded as one of her greatest successes on stage, and repeated the role at the Paris Opera.

Teresa Berganza portrayed the character with intelligence, singing the Habanera with the flexibility of a lieder singer, and abrupt changes in timbre and dynamic, seemingly addressing the crowd but meaning one person, in a provokingly light tone demonstrating superiority.

From 1957 to 1977, Teresa Berganza was married to the composer and pianist Felix Lavilla, who accompanied her in recitals and recordings.

Teresa Berganza showcased songs from Spain, from medieval cantigas from the era of Alfonso X of Castile to miniatures by Manuel de Falla and Enrique Granados.

Teresa Berganza participated in the concert for the opening of the Opera Bastille in Paris on 13 July 1989.

In 1992, Teresa Berganza participated in the opening ceremonies of Expo '92 in Seville and the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Teresa Berganza last taught singing at the Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia, continued to perform music of Spanish composers, and gave master classes all over the world.

Teresa Berganza's students have included Maria Bayo, Jorge Chamine and Alicia Nafe.

Teresa Berganza died on 13 May 2022 in San Lorenzo de El Escorial at age 89.

Teresa Berganza appeared in nine motion pictures, including Il barbiere di Siviglia in 1972, as Zerlina in Joseph Losey's Don Giovanni in 1979, and both Massenet's Werther and Carmen in 1980.

Teresa Berganza received a Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Arts from the Kingdom of Spain on 26 February 1982.

Teresa Berganza shared the 1991 Prince of Asturias Award for arts and letters with six other Spanish singers.

Teresa Berganza was awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise from the Kingdom of Spain on 3 May 2013.

Teresa Berganza received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 International Opera Awards.