Milagro Vargas was a soloist with the Stuttgart Opera from 1983-1992. Among
her roles were Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Orlofsky in
Die Fledermaus and Nancy in Britten's Albert Herring. She
sang Charlotte in Zimmermann's Die Soldaten, a role she reprised in
1995 at the Opera de Paris Bastille, and recorded by Teldec. Other roles
include Dorabella in Cost fan tutte at Berlin's Komiche Oper and
Ramiro in La finta Giardiniera at the Heidelberg Schlossfest. Her
portrayal of Nefertiti in the world premiere of Philip Glass's
Akhnaten was recorded by CBS/Sony, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor.
She sang Fortunata in Bruno Maderna's Satyricon, recorded by Harmonia
Mundi. In 1996 she sang the role of Carmen with the Eugene Opera.
Among her solo engagements, Ms. Vargas has appeared with the American
Composer's Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Houston Symphony, the Los
Angeles Philharmonic, Beethoven Halle Orchestra, Residentie Orkest (the
Hague), Staatsorchester Stuttgart, Saint Luke's Chamber Orchestra, and the
Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra. An avid proponent of vocal chamber music,
her appearances include Da Camera (Houston), Chicago Chamber Players, the
Folger Consort, the 20th Century Consort, and festivals at Aspen,
Marlboro, Bard and Cabrillo.
Highlights from recent seasons include Bach's B Minor Mass and
Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, with conductor Helmuth Rilling and the
Real Filharmonía (Spain), Copland's Emily Dickinson Songs with
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and appearances at the Lincoln Center's Great
Performers Series. In 1998, she toured Poland, Russia and Germany as
soloist for the European premiere of Penderecki's Credo
(Hännsler recording). In 1999, she appeared in Carnegie Hall with the
American Composer's Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor. She joined
conductor Murry Sidlin for performances and recording of Copland's The
Tender Land with The Third Angle New Music Ensemble on the Koch Label.
A native of New York, Vargas completed her undergraduate degree at the
Oberlin School of Music with Helen Hodam, and her Master's degree at the
Eastman School of Music with Jan DeGaetani. Vargas joined the University of
Oregon School of Music faculty in 1992.
