The soprano Maria Augusta Correia da Cruz (1869–1901), born in Viseu, demonstrated her musical talent at an early age, initially studying with Luís Dalhunty in her hometown and distinguishing herself in performances at the local grémio in 1887.1
In 1888, she moved to Lisbon, where she studied with Arturo Pontecchi. On October 18 of that year, she made her debut at the Teatro do Príncipe Real in Porto, under the direction of her teacher, in the role of Siebel in Faust by Gounod.2
Following this success, she was offered a contract by the Teatro de São João do Porto, which she declined in favor of moving to Milan in August 1889, supported by a government scholarship to continue her studies at the Conservatory with Sangiovanni. Her international debut took place in early November 1890 at the Teatro Garibaldi in Padua, in Il trovatore, achieving great success and immediately opening the doors to numerous other Italian theaters in cities such as Venice, Milan, Turin, Rome, and Trieste, among others.3
She later performed in various theaters in Austria, Poland, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil.4 Augusta Cruz retired from the stage in 1899 due to marriage and illness, and died in Lisbon.5
