Margaret Jane Wray
Margaret Jane Wray (December 17, 1962 – December 2, 2025) was an American dramatic soprano known for her interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner, performing at major opera houses in the United States and in Europe.
Born in Texas and raised in Illinois, Wray studied voice at the North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) and privately with soprano Ruth Falcon. She began her career performing as a mezzo-soprano at the Santa Fe Opera in 1984, and continued to perform as a mezzo until transitioning into the soprano repertoire in c. 1989. In her early career, she was a member of the young artist programs in Santa Fe, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera ("Met"). In 1989, she was the recipient of the prestigious Richard Tucker Award and that same year made her European debut at La Monnaie in Brussels. She had an active international career in operas and concerts until 2013 when she gave her final performances. In the United States, she was known for her appearances in The Ring Cycle at both the Met and the Seattle Opera, notably appearing in this work with the latter company in annual engagements from 2000 until her retirement in 2013. Her European engagements included performances at many leading opera houses, including La Scala, the Bavarian State Opera, and the Opéra National de Paris among others. She died in 2025 at the age of 62.
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