María Georgina Quitral Espinoza, more commonly known as Rayén Quitral (7 November 1916 – 20 October 1979),
was a
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...
an
soprano
A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...
and stage actress of
Mapuche
The Mapuche ( , ) also known as Araucanians are a group of Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging e ...
and
Picunche
The Picunche (a Mapudungun word meaning "North People"), also referred to as ''picones'' by the Spanish, were a Mapudungun-speaking people living to the north of the Mapuches or Araucanians (a name given to those Mapuche living between the Itat ...
descent. Known for her performance of the character of the "Queen of the Night" in the opera ''
The Magic Flute
''The Magic Flute'' (, ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. It is a ''Singspiel'', a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on ...
'', she was also known for regularly appearing in indigenous Mapuche dress, publicly displaying pride for her indigenous ancestry.
Biography
Rayén Quitral was born in the village of
Iloca, in the commune of
Licantén
Licantén is a town within the Licantén commune, administered by the Municipality of Licantén within the Curicó Province in the Maule Region of Chile. The commune also include the coastal town of Iloca.
Demographics
According to the 2002 cen ...
within the province of
Curicó
Curicó () is a city located in Chile's central valley and serves as the capital of the Curicó Province, which is part of the Maule Region. Positioned between the provinces of Colchagua and Talca, the region stretches from the Pacific Ocean ...
, in the
Maule Region
The Maule Region (, ) is one of Chile's 16 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region derives its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,6 ...
. She studied singing in Chile, before debuting aged 21 at the
Municipal Theatre of Santiago
The Teatro Municipal, National Opera of Chile is the most important stage theatre and opera house in Santiago, Chile.
History and overview
The Chilean government ceded a significant parcel of land in downtown Santiago to the municipality, in 184 ...
in 1937.
4 years later, Quitral performed the role of the "Queen of the Night" in
Mozart's opera ''The Magic Flute'' at the
Colón Theatre Colón, the primary Spanish translation of Christopher Columbus, may refer to:
Places
;Argentina
* Colón, Entre Ríos
* Colón Department, Córdoba
* Colón Department, Entre Ríos
* Colón, Buenos Aires
;Colombia
* Colón, Nariño
* Coló ...
of
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...
in 1941. She went on to appear in multiple performances across
the Americas
The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.'' Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sin ...
, later residing for a long period in
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
.
Quitral performed in ''
Lucia de Lammermoor'' in Chile in 1942, as well as playing the role of ''Gilda'' in ''
Rigoletto
''Rigoletto'' is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play '' Le roi s'amuse'' by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had c ...
'' in 1943. In 1950, she toured multiple concerts in
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
and
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, as well as
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, where she achieved great success in 1951, once more with a performance of ''The Magic Flute''.
This acclaim led to her appearance in
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...
afterwards.
[
In 1967, she retired aged 51 from touring, and dedicated herself to educating young people of limited means in singing. On 19 September 1972, the Chilean government awarded her a large pension.]
References
1916 births
1979 deaths
Chilean people of Mapuche descent
Chilean operatic sopranos
20th-century women opera singers
{{Chile-musician-stub