Barrientos, Maria (1884–1946)
Barrientos, Maria (1884–1946)
Spanish soprano who, as a child prodigy, appeared in the world's great opera houses. Born in Barcelona, Spain, on March 10, 1884; died in Ciboure, Basses Pyrénées on August 8, 1946.
When Maria Barrientos was 12, she wrote a symphony at the Barcelona Conservatory and conducted it when she graduated that same year. In 1896, few women conducted the world's almost all male orchestras, but Barrientos was determined to make her mark. She took singing lessons until she was not quite 15 and debuted at the Teatro de Novidades in Barcelona. In 1903, she sang in Covent Garden and a year later at La Scala; she was not yet 20. Barrientos appeared in many of the world's opera houses before finally debuting at the Metropolitan Opera in 1916. She recorded frequently and one set of records was made with Manuel de Falla at the piano.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia