Los Angeles, Victoria de (1923–2005)
Los Angeles, Victoria de (1923–2005)
Spanish soprano. Born Victoria Gómez Cima, Nov 1, 1923, in Barcelona, Spain; died Jan 15, 2005, in Barcelona; dau. of Bernardo Lopez Gomez; studied with Dolores Frau at Barcelona Conservatory until 1944; m. Enrique Magrina, 1948; children: 2 sons, Juan Enrique and Alejandro.
Debuted as Mimi in Barcelona (1941); won Geneva International Singing Competition (1947); debuted as Marguerite in Paris (1949); made Covent Garden debut as Mimi (1950); became widely popular, especially in Great Britain; made Metropolitan Opera debut as Marguerite (1951), appearing for more than 100 performances until 1961; was widely known for her 22 recorded operas, especially Bizet's Carmen made with Sir Thomas Beecham.
See also P. Roberts, Victoria de Los Angeles (London, 1982); and Women in World History.