Birth

:

January 16, 1928 in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain

Death

:

June 3, 1996 in Berlin, Germany

Genre

:

Opera

 

Pilar Lorengar was a Spanish soprano who was born on January 16, 1928, in Zaragoza, Spain. She was the daughter of a railway worker and grew up in a working-class family. Her love for music was evident from a young age, and she began singing in the church choir when she was just six years old. Lorengar's talent was recognized early on, and she was awarded a scholarship to study at the Madrid Royal Conservatory when she was 16 years old. She studied under the guidance of the renowned Spanish soprano Conchita Badía, who helped her develop her voice and technique. In 1950, Lorengar made her professional debut at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, where she performed the role of Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville." Her performance was well-received, and she quickly became a sought-after performer in Spain. Lorengar's international career began in 1955 when she was invited to perform at the Glyndebourne Festival in England. She performed the role of Susanna in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," and her performance was a huge success. This led to more invitations to perform in other countries, including Germany, Italy, and the United States. One of Lorengar's most notable performances was in 1961 when she performed the role of Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohème" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Her performance was praised by critics, and she became a regular performer at the Met for the next decade. Lorengar was known for her versatility as a performer and was equally comfortable performing opera, operetta, and art songs. She was particularly renowned for her interpretations of Mozart and Strauss, and her performances of their works were considered some of the best of her time. Throughout her career, Lorengar received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to classical music. In 1969, she was awarded the Gold Medal for Fine Arts by the Spanish government, and in 1975, she was made a Knight of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. She was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Alfonso X the Wise in 1982. Lorengar continued to perform well into her 60s, and her final performance was in 1991 when she performed the role of the Countess in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" in Barcelona. She retired from performing shortly after that and spent the rest of her life teaching and mentoring young singers. Pilar Lorengar passed away on June 2, 1996, in Berlin, Germany, at the age of 68. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest sopranos of her time, and her contributions to classical music continue to be celebrated and remembered today.

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