Born in 1931 at Santander, soprano Isabel Penagos studied at the Royal Conservatory in Madrid; she made her professional debut in Bach's Saint Matthew Passion in Madrid in 1953.
Her career in opera, zarzuela, concert, and recital centered in Spain, and she also appeared in Paris, Lisbon, at La Scala (as Musetta in 1963), and Buenos Aires.
In 1967, Ms. Penagos created the role of Julia Farnese in Alberto Ginastera's BOMARZO at Washington DC; she later recorded the role under Julius Rudel's baton.
In 1968, I heard Ms. Penagos as Walther in Catalani's LA WALLY in a concert performance at Carnegie Hall, singing opposite Renata Tebaldi and Carlo Bergonzi. You can listen to the performance here.
Isabel Penagos' lovely recording of the Siete canciones populares españolas of Manuel de Falla with pianist Miguel Zanetti may be heard here.