Angeles Gulin Spanish opera singer-soprano Date of Birth: 18.02.1939 Country: Spain

Biography of Maria de los Ángeles Gulín

Maria de los Ángeles Gulín, a Spanish opera soprano, is particularly associated with the early works of Giuseppe Verdi. She was born on February 18, 1939 in the municipality of Ribadavia in western Spain. At the age of eight, she moved with her family to Montevideo, the capital and largest city of Uruguay.

Gulín learned to sing under the guidance of her father, who became a local music director and organized outdoor concerts, mainly in parks. In 1963, she made her professional operatic debut when she replaced a more experienced artist at the last minute and performed the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute."

Later, she returned to Europe and performed mainly in Spain and Italy, taking on roles such as Lucia di Lammermoor, Gilda in "Rigoletto," and Violetta in "La traviata." After winning the Verdian Voices Competition in Busseto in 1968, Gulín turned to more dramatic roles and specialized in Verdi's early works. Her repertoire included his operas "Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio," "Nabucco," "I due Foscari," "Giovanna d'Arco," "Attila," "Alzira," "Il corsaro," "Luisa Miller," "Stiffelio," "Aroldo," "I vespri siciliani," "Simon Boccanegra," "Un ballo in maschera," "La forza del destino," and "Aida."

In addition to these, Gulín also excelled in Rossini's "La Donna del lago," Bellini's "Beatrice di Tenda" and "Norma," Gaspare Spontini's "Fernand Cortez," Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots," Ponchielli's "La Gioconda," Rachmaninoff's "Francesca da Rimini," Manuel de Falla's "La vida breve," and Montemezzi's "Andrea Chénier" and Puccini's "Turandot."

Gulín possessed a rich and powerful voice that was also flexible and agile. Her career came to an end in 1987 due to serious health problems following a stroke. She passed away in Madrid on October 10, 2002. Gulín was married to baritone Antonio Blancas, and their daughter, Ángeles Blancas Gulín, is also a soprano.

The artistry of Maria de los Ángeles Gulín was rediscovered after the release of several recordings featuring her live performances.