Graciela Araya, born in Concepción, is a Chilean mezzosoprano with a lengthy international career who has played over 70 roles and is known around the world for her interpretation of Carmen.

She inherited her love for classical music from her parents, who regularly listened to opera. At age 14, Graciela started taking lessons with no major expectations, but it took her only a few years to begin studying under Marta Durán.

In 1984, only three years after her debut and with no university-level singing education, Graciela was awarded a scholarship that enabled her to study in Europe. There, she made her debut with the Deutsche Oper of Berlin in the world premiere of Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke (The Love and Death of Cornet Christopher Rilke ).

In 1987, Graciela Araya received the O.-E.-Hasse Award as the best young artist in Germany, after playing Orpheus in Orfeo ed Euridice.

Some years later, after 12 consecutive seasons at the Vienna State Opera, the Chilean artist became an Austrian national.

Along with her great work in opera , Araya had the chance to create and play for the first time the character of Donna Maria d’Avalos in the opera Gesualdo, after its composer, Alfred Schnittke, died before seeing his play performed on stage.

She has offered Master Classes en Chile and now directs Mattapeghó’s Opera Training program, an initiative aimed at spreading the beauty of opera across the country.

Throughout her career, she has successfully played leading roles at major venues around the world, including the Royal Opera House of London, the Opéra National of Paris, the Teatro dell’Opera of Rome, the Metropolitan Opera House of New York, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera, and the New National Theatre, Tokyo.

El  nombre más común en inglés.

Literal; podría ser mejor “as an opera singer” porque lo que se describe también tiene que ver con la ópera.