Catalina de los Ríos y Lisperguer

Who was Catalina de los Ríos y Lisperguer?

Catalina de los Ríos y Lisperguer was an aristocratic 17th century Chilean landowner, nicknamed La Quintrala because of her flaming red hair. During Chile's colonial period, she was noted for her extreme cruelty to her inquilinos, accused and tried for over 40 murders, becoming an icon of colonial abuse and oppression.

She died in Santiago at the age of about 60. Her figure still lives in Chilean popular culture as the epitome of the perverse and abusive woman, as well as the oppression of Spanish rule. Catalina de los Ríos was of Spanish, German and Amerindian descent.

Danish composer Lars Graugaard composed an opera based on her. Graugaard's opera La Quintrala for five singers and interactive computer was premiered September 2, 2004 in Copenhagen.

Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna, wrote Los Lisperguer y La Quintrala about her.