Teresa Berganza Teresa Berganza

Teresa Berganza Vargas OAXS (16 March 1933 – 13 May 2022) was a Spanish mezzo-soprano. She is most closely associated with the roles of Rossini and Bizet, admired for her technical virtuosity, musical intelligence, and beguiling stage presence. She appeared as Zerlina in Joseph Losey's Don Giovanni film in 1979. She participated in the opening ceremonies of Expo '92 in Seville and the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Life and career

Teresa Berganza was born in Madrid. She studied piano and voice at the Madrid Royal Conservatory, where she was awarded first prize for singing in 1954. She made her concert debut in Madrid in 1955.

Berganza made her operatic debut as Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte in 1957 at the Aix-en-Provence Festival. That same year, she made her La Scala debut. She first appeared at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1958, as Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, and later also in the title role of Rossini's La Cenerentola. In 1959, Berganza made her first appearances at the Royal Opera House as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, which became one of her signature roles. In 1967, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut, again as Cherubino.

As a recitalist, Berganza made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1964. Her concert repertoire includes Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Russian songs. From 1957 to 1977, Berganza was married to the composer and pianist Félix Lavilla, with whom she recorded and performed regularly. The couple had three children, including soprano Cecilia Lavilla Berganza.

Berganza shared the 1991 Prince of Asturias Award for arts and letters with six other Spanish singers. She also received the Grand Prix Rossini.

In 1992, Berganza participated in the opening ceremonies of Expo '92 in Seville and the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. In 1994, she became the first woman elected to the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. In 1996, she was awarded the Premio Nacional de Música. She last taught singing at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, continued to perform music of Spanish composers, and gave master classes all over the world. Her students have included María Bayo and Jorge Chaminé.

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

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

Films

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.

Honours

• Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Arts (Kingdom of Spain, 26 February 1982).
• Dame Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise (Kingdom of Spain, 3 May 2013).