Teresa Berganza

Teresa Berganza
Berganza in 1957
Born
Teresa Berganza Vargas

(1933-03-16)16 March 1933
Madrid, Spain
Died13 May 2022(2022-05-13) (aged 89)
EducationMadrid Royal Conservatory
Occupations
  • Opera singer
  • Academic teacher
OrganizationEscuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía
Spouse
(m. 1957; div. 1977)
Awards

Teresa Berganza Vargas OAXS (16 March 1933 – 13 May 2022) was a Spanish mezzo-soprano. She 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.

Berganza was a key singer in a Rossini renaissance which explored less-performed operas and restored the leading roles to mezzo register. She appeared as Zerlina in Joseph Losey's Don Giovanni film in 1979. She participated in the opening ceremonies of the Expo '92 in Seville and of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.