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The Australian mezzo-soprano, Margreta Elkins, studied with Ruby Dent in Brisbane, with Pauline Bindley in Melbourne and Vera Rozsa in London. She had further studies with Campogalliani in Milan.
In 1950 Margreta Elkins toured Queensland and appeared in Faust as Siebel; Il Trovatore as Azucena; and Madama Butterfly as Suzuki. In 1952 she joined and toured with the National Opera Company of Australia, making her début as Carmen in Brisbane in 1953 and Azucena in 1954. She made her debut at the Brisbane Opera Company in 1955 as Azucena.
Moving to Europe in 1956, Margreta Elkins was based there for the next twenty years and performed with the Dublin Grand Opera Company and the Carl Rosa Opera Company in Carmen as Carmen. By 1957 (or 1958 - Who's Who) she had become resident principal mezzo-soprano at the Royal Opera House, where she stayed for ten years, appearing in Aida as Amneris; Lucia di Lammermoor as Alisa; Der Rosenkavalier as Octavian; Die Walküre as Sieglinde; and The Growing Castle as The Poet, Adalgisa in Norma, and Marina in Boris Godunov. She sang at Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1963, in Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel. She regularly appeared with Joan Sutherland in Norma, as Adalgisa, and in Alcina, as Ruggiero. Her other roles included Herodias, Maffio Orsini, Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde) and Delilah. She played Helen in the premiere of Tippett's King Priam, with the Royal Opera at Coventry on May 29, 1962.
Margreta Elkins had guest engagements in Genoa, Naples, Barcelona, Naples, Boston, New Orleans and Philadelphia. In 1974 she sang in Amsterdam in G.F. Handel's Rodelinda. In 1976 (or 1975 - Who's Who), she returned to Australia and became a member of the Australian Opera in Sydney. She appeared as Amneris at Brisbane in 1988, and as Azucena in 1990. Her repertoire ranges from Monteverdi to Wagner, and she also gave many concert appearances.
On June 11, 1984, Margreta Elkins was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to opera. She is a Sessional Lecturer in Voice at the Queensland Conservatorium.
Recordings include: Many opera sets for Decca, with Joan Sutherland: I Puritani, La Sonnambula, Faust, Rosina by Shield, Giulio Cesare, Griselda by
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