Angela Peralta was a legendary operatic soprano, known as the Mexican Nightingale. During her career, she starred in numerous operas, including the aria “Mexican Nightingale” and the role of Amina in La sonnambula. In addition, she performed in 166 performances of Lucia di Lammermoor. However, during the mid-1870s, Peralta was smitten by the director of the Mexican opera company Julian Montiel y Duarte. The scandal led to a boycott of Peralta’s performances in Mexico City. Fortunately, she recovered from the scandal after a performance in the Linda di Chamounix, but pledged to never sing in Mexico City again.
Angela Peralta – Mexican Operatic Soprano
The most distinguished Mexican operatic soprano of the 19th century, Angela Peralta was a prolific artist. Born in 1845 in Mexico City, she first gained attention as a child when she performed an aria from the Italian opera, Belisario. As a child, Peralta lived with her paternal grandmother in Oruro, where she discovered her love for the opera.
During her career, Peralta toured throughout Mexico, singing signature roles. Her love affair with a wealthy lawyer, Julian Montiel y Duarte, caused a backlash from the social elite. Ultimately, Peralta decided never to sing again in Mexico City. Her reputation was damaged by the rumors of her affair with Montiel, who died in 1879 of yellow fever.
Lucia Di Lammermoor
When she was just 15, Peralta performed her first opera, Lucia di Lammermoor. Peralta’s performance received high praise and earned her standing ovations in Milan, where she went on to perform for the first time in 1865. She returned to the stage a total of 23 times, including a visit to Rome to perform at the Teatro La Fenice in 1878.
Although peralta’s height and weight did not lend her to being the perfect singer, she did manage to make a successful career as an operatic soprano. Despite her diminutive stature, her talent earned her the nickname Mexican Nightingale and she began to dominate the lyrical style of opera known as bel canto. Some of her best-known songs are available for download on YouTube. Her music transcended national boundaries and provided a sense of beauty to masses of people.
Professional Singer
After her birth in Mexico City, Peralta spent the first few years of her life studying music and becoming a professional singer. She was inspired by her father, Manuel Peralta, the organist of the Cathedral of San Luis Potsi, and studied with his daughters, Maria and Macaria. Peralta made her first operatic appearance at age fifteen, as Leonora in Verdi’s Il trovatore. She then went on to perform at the La Scala in Milan and toured Europe.
Mexican Singer Angela Peralta
The lyric style of bel canto was dominated by Mexican opera singer Angela Peralta. She was known as the Mexican Nightingale and performed in several opera houses in Europe and the United States. Her song selections are available for download on YouTube and she was also a gifted pianist and harpist. Her singing was a universal appeal, spanning the boundaries of nationality and offering beauty to the masses.
In 1865, Peralta performed in the chamber music of the empire, performing before Maximilian I of Mexico and Queen Charlotte of Belgium. She toured Mexico in 1866 and 1871 before returning to Europe. She also founded her own opera company in Mexico City, but was shunned by society when her husband died of a mental illness. Her first marriage soured quickly.
Peralta’s Marriage and Affair
The controversy surrounding Peralta’s marriage and affair with Julian Montiel y Duarte impacted her career and her life. After her husband died of a nervous breakdown, she decided to tour with an Italian opera troupe. Her performances were boycotted by the public. After an episode in a performance of Linda di Chamounix, she recovered and decided not to perform in Mexico City again.
Gran Teatro Nacional
Born in Mexico City, Angela Peralta started studying opera when she was fifteen years old. At age fifteen, she performed her debut in the Gran Teatro Nacional, one of the country’s premier opera houses. Afterwards, she travelled to Italy where she furthered her training. In 1862, her performance in Lucia di Lammermoor cemented her reputation as a great opera singer, and she returned to the stage for 23 more performances.
Second Mexican Empire
After the collapse of the Second Mexican Empire, Angela Peralta’s opera career took off in Paris and Rome. The young Mexican woman was named the ‘Mexican Nightingale’ and performed in major opera houses throughout Europe. She also spent time in the United States, performing in Havana, Cuba, and at the Teatro de la Scala in Milan. The audience applauded her singing in 1869, and she returned to Mexico. Her tragic life has become a source of shame for Mexicans, and her talent has inspired many others.
Peralta swore she would never perform in Mexico City again, but her career continued unabated. She continued her relationship with her manager, Julian Montiel y Duarte. Despite the scandal, she continued her professional relationship with her manager, and even founded her own touring opera company. This company toured the Northwest of Mexico, including Guymas and Mazatlan. She also toured Europe and even sang for Mexico’s first monarch, Maximillian.
Angela Peralta Relationship
Although Peralta remained committed to her career, the relationship between her manager was a sour note. The manager’s love for Peralta’s talent was evident in the ‘affair’ she had with her manager. The affair continued for a short time, and she returned to Mexico to perform Aida at the Gran Teatro Nacional. The opera was her first major international performance. She was booed and dubbed the ‘Mexican Nightingale.’
It’s not known whether Peralta was gay or not, but her marriage to her manager Julian Montiel y Duarte was a secret and her marriage to her cousin did not end well. Both of them had affairs. Angela Peralta’s husband died in a mental hospital, and her manager remained unfaithful. But despite the scandal, she continued her career and later became a businesswoman.
Singer and Actress
Marni Nixon was born in 1930, a city in the southern United States. She began singing at a young age in professional choirs, and in her late teens, studied to become a classical soprano. Despite her musical training, she didn’t find it easy to break into the movie business, and ended up working as a messenger for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. She was then hired to sing in various films, mainly as a ‘ghost’ – a role that would allow her to sing with a full band. During her early career, Hollywood tended to cast established stars over singers who had studied to become singers.
Died in 1883
Angela Peralta was an American opera singer, harpist, composer, pianist, and harpist. She was born in Mexico City on July 6, 1845. She married Julian Montiel y Duarte in 1883 on her deathbed. It is said that she was unconscious when the wedding ceremony took place, and that her harpist Lemus tapped her head to signify her yes to the marriage.
She began her career at an early age, singing at the Gran Teatro Nacional in Mexico City. Her role as Lucia was particularly successful and she sang the role 166 times. After her marriage, she took a break from performing and composed her Album Musical de Angela Peralta. The album was later recorded and sold for $1 million. In addition to singing her signature role, Peralta sang Lucia di Lammermoor in six operas.
Born in Mexico City, Angela Peralta was a talented operatic singer. She was also an accomplished pianist and harpist. Her career began at a young age and she was believed to have impressed the famous German soprano Henrietta Sontag in 1854. Peralta went to Europe, where she was a student of Agustin Balderas. Balderas sponsored her debut in Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”. She later returned to Mexico and appeared in Melesio Morales’ Ildegonda.
In 1871, Peralta returned to Mexico City. Her homecoming was celebrated with a grand performance at the Gran Teatro Nacional. She was joined by famed Italian tenor Enrico Tamberlick for the role of Aida in the Spanish version of the opera. However, her death ended her international career, and the locals were devastated. In fact, Angela Peralta’s death inspired many other women to pursue a career in music.