About Cristina Deutekom
Cristina Deutekom (28 August 1931 – 7 August 2014) was a Dutch operatic dramatic coloratura soprano. She sang with many of the leading tenors of her time, including Carlo Bergonzi, José Carreras, Franco Corelli, Plácido Domingo, Nicolai Gedda, Alfredo Kraus, Mario del Monaco, Luciano Pavarotti, and Richard Tucker. == Life == Deutekom was born Stientje Engel in Amsterdam. She studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Coby Riemersma and Felix Hupka. In 1963, she made her debut with De Nederlandse Opera as Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute. After some lesser roles with the company, she contemplated giving up singing altogether, since her career did not seem to progress. During a performance of Der Rosenkavalier in Spain – in which she was singing the smaller role of Marianne Leitmetzerin – Deutekom was overheard warming up with the Queen of the Night aria in her dressing room by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, who was singing the Marschallin in that night's performance. Story has it that Schwarzkopf opened the door and asked: "Child, do you know what you are singing there?" and was shocked to hear that she was not performing this role all over the world. "I do not think much of any impresario, that does not recognize such talent", she said and introduced her to her own manager, Rudi Rothenberg. She then went on to conquer the major opera houses in succession with the Queen of the Night.
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