Margiono (real name Charlotte Marie-Louise Heijdemann) was born in
Amsterdam and studied at the
Arnhem conservatoire with
Aafje Heynis. She was originally a
Mozart specialist, but gradually added a handful of later operas by
Beethoven,
Carl Maria von Weber,
Verdi,
Smetana,
Puccini and
Richard Strauss to her repertoire. She has appeared in opera houses all over the world. After her international successes, she sang three lyric
Wagner roles at the
Netherlands Opera: Eva in
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (2000), Elsa in
Lohengrin (2002), and Sieglinde in
Die Walküre (2004). She returned to Mozart for the controversial 2006-07 Netherlands Opera
Da Ponte trilogy by Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito as Marcellina (
Le nozze di Figaro), and Donna Elvira (
Don Giovanni). In 2008, she unexpectedly gave up opera, to better concentrate on
Lieder, and on her concert work. Margiono is famous for her interpretation of the
Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss, which she recorded in 1993 with the
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra under
Edo de Waart (Brilliant Classics). Her beautiful voice is used intelligently, and with great artistry. She is a fine actress as well. In 1998 she founded the Margiono Quintet, consisting of members of the
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. In December 2008 the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht appointed Charlotte Margiono as a lecturer in "Communicating Music." == References ==