She had early vocal training on scholarship at the Third Street Music Settlement with Beatrice Rippy and Lucy Shelton.
DeGaetani would become a major influence on Vargas's singing and approach to music, leading to praise from critics for her vivid but natural performances in traditional styles, and bringing that vocalism to contemporary works.
[2][3] Among her many roles at Stuttgart were Nefertiti in the world premiere and recording of Akhnaten by Philip Glass, Cherubino in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, Meg in Verdi's Falstaff, Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Nancy in Britten's Albert Herring, Tisbe in Rossini's ’La Cenerentola, and Stimme des Waldes in Henze's König Hirsch.
[5] Kupfer brought her to the Komische Oper Berlin to sing Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte.
[6] Her performances with conductor Helmuth Rilling include Bach's Mass in B Minor, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, and the Grammy Award winning recording Penderecki's Credo.