Carmen Bonaplata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carmen Bonaplata-Bau
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![]() Carmen Bonaplata (1896)
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Nationality | Spanish |
Spouse(s) | Lorenzo Bau |
Carmen Bonaplata-Bau (1871–1911) was a talented Spanish operatic soprano. A soprano is a singer with the highest female voice. She started her singing career in 1886 in Milan, Italy. Her first big role was playing Aida in Verdi's famous opera Aida at the Teatro Dal Verme.
Carmen Bonaplata performed in many important opera houses. From 1892, she often sang at La Scala, a very famous opera house in Milan. She also performed in New York (1896), Buenos Aires (1897), and her hometown, Barcelona (1902). She was well-known for her role as Aida and sang it many times. Carmen retired from the stage in 1904.
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Her Life and Career
Carmen Bonaplata was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1871. Her father, Teodor Bonaplata, was an actor and writer. Carmen studied music and singing with Ignacio Jumadrea. Later, she learned from Lorenzo Bau, who was a pianist and conductor. She married Lorenzo Bau in 1890.
Carmen made her first big performance in 1886. She sang the main role in Aida at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan. In 1890, she played Marguerite in Gounod's opera Faust in Rome.
Performances at La Scala and Beyond
During the 1892–93 season, Carmen sang at La Scala. She performed as Isabella in Cristoforo Colombo. She also played Senta in Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer. Her other role there was Jeftele in Il figliuol prodigo.
The next year (1893–94), she took on the main role in Ponchielli's La Gioconda. She sang this opera at the Teatro Real in Madrid and later in Seville. She returned to La Scala in 1894. There, she played Sieglinde in Wagner's Die Walküre. She also sang the main role in Alfredo Catalani's Loreley.
International Tours and Famous Roles
Carmen Bonaplata traveled a lot for her performances. In 1895, she sang in Buenos Aires. In 1896, she toured the United States. The next year, 1897, she performed in St Petersburg and Moscow.
She was famous for many other important roles. These included Margherita in Mefistofele and Desdemona in Verdi's Otello. She also played Valentine in Les Huguenots, Else in Lohengrin, and Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana.
Before she stopped performing in 1904, she played Tosca at Barcelona's Teatro Liceo. After retiring, Carmen Bonaplata spent her time teaching music. People who watched her perform said she had a very strong voice and great singing skills. They also noted her talent as an actress.
Carmen Bonaplata passed away in Barcelona on February 11, 1911.
See also
In Spanish: Carmen Bonaplata para niños