Victoria de los Angeles was one of the finest lyric sopranos in the decades after World War II. After studying at the Conservatorio de Liceo in Barcelona, her breakthrough occurred when she won the Geneva International Singing Competition in 1947. She signed an exclusive contract with EMI, a relationship that lasted 30 years. She sang in most of the major houses of the world and performed with the great conductors. She had a wide vocal and dramatic range, singing Baroque opera to Catalan folk songs. With a lovely, warm, and dark tone, she was always noted for the intelligence of her portrayals and musical choices. She closely monitored her own singing, retiring from the operatic stage in 1969, but continuing to sing recitals, while reviews still stressed the purity of her voice. One of her last appearances was in connection with the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. ~ Joseph Stevenson