Margarida Xirgu

An opera, Ainadamar, by the composer Osvaldo Golijov and playwright David Henry Hwang, based on Xirgu's life and her association with Lorca, was premiered in 2003. A recording of the work released in 2006 on the Deutsche Grammophon label (Catalog #642902) won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition and Best Opera Recording.

• Other Names — Margarida Xirgu • Birth Name — Margarita Xirgu Subirá • Born — 18 June 1888 • Birthplace — Molins de Rei, Barcelona, Kingdom of Spain • Died — 25 April 1969 • Place of death — Maldonado, Uruguay • Resting Place — Molins de Rei, Barcelona, Spain • Occupation — * Actress • director

• Illustration — Xirgu and Arnall on their wedding day • Illustration — Xirgu in 1911 Born in Molins de Rei in 1888, her family moved first to Girona in 1890 and finally to Barcelona in 1896. In 1910 she married Josep Arnall.

• Illustration — Xirgu as La reina jove (1911) • Illustration — Xirgu in Santa Juana de Castilla by Benito Pérez Galdós (1918) Xirgu's first theater work was in 1906 with the Blanca character in Mar i cel, at the Teatre Romea. In 1908, she was really successful with Joventut de príncep at the Teatre Principal. After that, in 1909, she began her film career with Guzmán el bueno. In 1911 Àngel Guimerà wrote La reina jove for her, and that year she created her own theater company. In 1912 a Buenos Aires businessman contracted her for working in South America. • Illustration — Xirgu and Pedro López Lagar in La sirena varada (1934) In 1934, she played the mermaid in La sirena varada by Alejandro Casona. She starred in the early film version of García Lorca's Bodas de sangre, filmed in February–March 1938, the only film version of a García Lorca play to star an actress who was a personal friend of the author and who had appeared in his works onstage. It is Ms. Xirgu's only sound film, and it has never been shown on American television or released on video. It was first shown on Argentine television in January 1966.