Susan Graham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Susan Graham (born July 23, 1960, Roswell, New Mexico) is an American mezzo-soprano.
Raised in Midland, Texas, she is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School of Music. She studied the piano for 13 years.[1] She was a winner in the Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions, and also a recipient of the Schwabacher Award from the Merola Program of San Francisco Opera.
Graham made her international début at Covent Garden in 1994, playing Massenet's Chérubin.[2] She has also premièred several roles in contemporary operas, including John Harbison's The Great Gatsby (Jordan Baker), Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking (Sister Helen Prejean), and Tobias Picker's An American Tragedy (Sondra Finchley).[3]
Graham is a noted champion of the French song repertoire[4] and of songs by contemporary American composers, including Ned Rorem and Lowell Liebermann.[5] Graham made her Carnegie Hall recital debut in April 2003,[6] and a recording of this recital was later released.
Graham sang "Bless This House" at George W. Bush's second inauguration on 20 January 2005.[2] She is a US delegate for UNESCO.[7][8]
Contents |
[edit] Opera roles
Her operatic roles include:
- Samuel Barber
- Hector Berlioz
- Béatrice et Bénédict (Béatrice) 1997[11]
- La damnation de Faust (Marguerite) La Scala
- Les Troyens (Didon) Théâtre du Châtelet, (Paris)
- Christoph Willibald Gluck
- Iphigénie en Tauride (Iphigénie)[12]
- Alexander Goehr
- Arianna (Arianna)[2]
- Charles Gounod
- Roméo et Juliette (Stephano) Seattle Opera
- George Frideric Handel
- Alcina (Ruggerio)[13]
- Ariodante Houston Grand Opera
- John Harbison
- Great Gatsby (Jordan Baker) 1999[14]
- Jake Heggie
- Franz Lehár
- The Merry Widow Hanna Glawari (the title character)[15][16][2]
- Jules Massenet
- Werther (Charlotte)
- Chérubin Royal Opera House[17]
- Claudio Monteverdi
- L'incoronazione di Poppea (Poppea)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Così fan tutte (Dorabella)[2]
- Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira) Lyric Opera of Chicago[18]
- Idomeneo (Idamante) Houston Grand Opera, Palais Garnier, Paris
- La clemenza di Tito (Sesto) Opéra National de Paris and concert performances[19]
- Le Nozze di Figaro (Cherubino) Metropolitan Opera
- Lucio Silla (Cecilio), Santa Fe Opera[20]
- Tobias Picker
- An American Tragedy (Sondra Finchley) Metropolitan Opera world première
- Henry Purcell
- Dido and Aeneas (Sorceress)[2]
- Gioachino Rossini
- Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
- Richard Strauss
- Ariadne auf Naxos (Composer) Metropolitan Opera,[21] Royal Opera House,[22] and Glyndebourne[23]
- Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian)[24][2]
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Falstaff (Meg Page)
[edit] Awards
- 2001 Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres)[25]
- June 2005 Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters
- Musical America 2004 Vocalist of the Year
- September 5, 2006 Midland, Texas first annual "Susan Graham Day"[26]
Some of the recordings have also received awards. See below.
[edit] Recordings
Susan Graham's recordings (in chronological order):
- 1992
- Le sacre du printemps, Pulcinella (Stravinsky) Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz (conductor) Delos Records 3100
- 1995
- Scenes from Goethe's Faust (Schumann) Bryn Terfel, Karita Mattila, Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Barbara Bonney, Endrik Wottrich, Iris Vermillion, Brigitte Poschner-Klebel, Susan Graham, Hans-Peter Blochwitz, Harry Peeters, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado (conductor). Sony Classical 66308
- 1996
- Roméo et Juliette (Charles Gounod) Plácido Domingo, Ruth Ann Swenson, Miles, Kurt Ollmann, Susan Graham, Alain Vernhes, Paul Charles Clarke Bayerischen Rundfunkorchester und chor, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Leonard Slatkin (conductor). RCA 68440
- 1997
- Béatrice et Bénédict (Berlioz). Catherine Robbin (Ursule), Gabriel Bacquier (Somarone), Gilles Cachemaille (Claudio), Jean-Luc Viala (Bénédict), Philippe Magnant (Léonato), Susan Graham (Béatrice), Sylvia McNair (Héro), Vincent le Texier (Don Pedro), Lyon Opera Orchestra and Chorus, John Nelson (conductor). MusiFrance 2292
- The Gold & Silver Gala Susan duets with Plácido Domingo in La Ci Darem La Mano. EMI Classics 56337
- Les nuits d'été and Opera Arias (Berlioz) Les nuits d'été Op. 7 and songs from La Damnation De Faust Op. 24, Benvenuto Cellini, Les Troyens, Béatrice et Bénédict. Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, John Nelson (conductor) Sony 62730
- 1998
- La Belle Époque – The Songs of Reynaldo Hahn (Hahn) Roger Vignoles (piano) Sony. Awards: Winner of Performance Today "Critic's Choice" Award; the 1999 Caecilia Prize; Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik critic's award; Choc du Monde de la Musique; Opera International's Timbre de Platine. Sony 60168
- Ravel: Shéhérazade, Debussy La damoiselle elue, Britten Les illuminations. Sylvia McNair, Susan Graham, Boston Symphony Orchestra Seiji Ozawa. Philips 446682. (Susan sings on La damoiselle elue.)
- 2000
- Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Act 1 - closing scene; Act 3 - Trio and finale; Arabella Act 1 duet; Capriccio - closing scene. Renée Fleming (Marschallin), Barbara Bonney, Susan Graham (Octavian), Vienna PO, Christoph Eschenbach (conductor) Decca 466 314-2[27]
- Songs of Ned Rorem (Rorem) Malcolm Martineau (piano) Rorem's settings of poems by Paul Goodman, Theodore Roethke, Witter Bynner, Tennyson, Walt Whitman and others. Erato 80222[28]
- Alcina (Handel) Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Natalie Dessay, Kathleen Kuhlmann, Timothy Robinson, Laurent Naouri, Juanita Lascarro, Michael Loughlin-Smith, Maurizio Rossano, Laurent Collobert, Eric Demarteau, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (conductor). Erato 80233[29]
- Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ; Three Irlande songs; Sara la baigneuse Susan Graham, François Le Roux, John Mark Ainsley, Montreal SO and Chorus, Dutoit. Decca[30]
- 2001
- Il tenero momento (Mozart and Gluck). Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Harry Bicket (conductor) Erato Best Recital Disc in 2001 (The Gramophone), German Echo Klassik award, Prix Gabriel Fauré and the Grand Prix (Académie du disque)[31]
- 2002
- Dead Man Walking (Heggie) Susan Graham, Catherine Cook, Robert Orth, Frederica Von Stade, Nicolle Foland, David Harper, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Patrick Summers (conductor). Erato 86238-2[32]
- C'est ça la vie, c'est ça l'amour (Songs by Moïse Simons, Messager, Maurice Yvain, Honegger, Hahn, and Mahler) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Yves Abel (conductor). Erato 42106
- 2003
At Carnegie Hall (Songs by Brahms, Debussy, Berg, Poulenc, Messager, Moïse Simons, Hahn, Mahler, and Ben Moore.) Malcolm Martineau (piano) Erato 2564 60295-2[33][34][35]
- 2004
- Concord Sonata - Songs (Ives) 2005 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance. Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano), Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Tabea Zimmermann (viola). Warner Classics 2564 60297-2[36][37][38][39]
- Vanessa (Barber). Susan Graham (Erika), Christine Brewer (Vanessa), William Burden (Anatol), Michael Davis, Neal Davies (The Old Doctor), Catherine Wyn-Rogers (Old Baroness), Simon Birchall (Nicholas), Stephen Charlesworth (Footman), BBC Singers (Servants, Guests, Peasants), Anthony Legge (conductor), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin (conductor). Chandos CHSA 5032[40]
- Les Troyens (Berlioz) — DVD. Susan Graham (Dido), Gregory Kunde (Aeneas), Laurent Naouri (Narbal), Lydia Korniordou (Andromache), Mark Padmore (Iopas), Topi Lehtipuu (Hylas/Helenus), Fernand Bernardi (Ghost of Hector), Danielle Bouthillon (Hecube), Nicolas Courjal (Trojan Guard), Benjamin Davies (Trojan soldier), Frances Jellard (Polyxenes), Anna Caterina Antonacci (Cassandra), Ludovic Tézier (Chorèbe), Renata Pokupic (Anna), Hippolyte Lykavieris (Astyanax), Stéphanie d'Oustrac (Ascanius), Nicolas Testé (Panthus), René Schirrer (Priam), Laurent Alvaro (Trojan Guard), Robert Davies (Greek Captain), Simon Davies (Priest of Pluto), Monteverdi Choir. BBC / Opus Arte
- Dido and Aeneas (Purcell) Susan Graham (Dido), Ian Bostridge (Aeneas), Camilla Tilling (Belinda), Felicity Palmer (Sorceress), David Daniels (Spirit), Cécile de Boever (Second Woman), Paul Agnew (A Sailor), Emmanuelle Haïm (conductor), European Voices, Le Concert d'Astrée. Virgin Veritas 45605. Grammy Award nomination. Maria Callas award from the Académie du Disque Lyrique[41][42]
- 2005
- Poèmes de l'amour — Chausson Poeme de l’amour et de la mer; Ravel Sheherazade); Debussy orch. Adams Songs from Le Livre De Baudelaire BBC Symphony Orchestra, Yan Pascal Tortelier Warner Classics 2564 619382 (CD)[43][44]
- Sacred Songs Renée Fleming (soprano), London Voices, RPO/Delfs. Decca 475 6925. Susan sings a duet with Renée in "Abends will ich schlafen gehn" from Engelbert Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel.[45]
- 2006
- La Clemenza di Tito (Mozart). – DVD. Susan Graham (Sesto). Opus Arte OA 0942
- Werther (Massenet) — DVD Thomas Hampson (Werther), Susan Graham (Charlotte), Sandrine Piau, Stephane Degout (Albert), Michel Plasson (conductor), Chatelet Opera, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. Virgin Classics
Audio samples of the performances are often available at online music stores.
[edit] References
- ^ Martin Kettle, "America's most wanted". The Guardian, 10 December 2004.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hugh Canning, "Everything but the girl". The Times, 11 March 2007.
- ^ Anthony Tommasini, "Dreiser's Chilling Tale of Ambition and Its Price". New York Times, 5 December 2005.
- ^ Allan Kozinn, "Taking a Two-Century Voyage Through the Music of France". New York Times, 31 January 2007.
- ^ Anthony Tommasini, "A Singer at Ease in Opera and in Song Repertory". New York Times, 19 April 2000.
- ^ Allan Kozinn, "A Brisk Tour, Concluding With a Boa". New York Times, 18 April 2003.
- ^ U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Susan Graham
- ^ Mrs. Bush's Remarks to UNESCO Plenary Session in Paris
- ^ The Observer (Anthony Holden) Vanessa, you've been a very lucky girl 23 November 2003
- ^ The Guardian (Tim Ashley) Vanessa 18 November 2003
- ^ Philip Anson Béatrice et Bénédict: Bis! 1 July 1997
- ^ The Guardian (Edward Greenfield) A new leash of life 19 August 2000
- ^ Renée Fleming Fifty ways to sing about love
- ^ The Guardian (Martin Kettle) Great Scott! Jay and Daisy bring the jazz age to the Met
- ^ Anne Midgette, "How to Take a Widow Three Stages Past Merry". New York Times, 24 December 2003.
- ^ Anthony Tommasini, "The Merry Widow Meets The Embarrassed Fiancée". New York Times, 2 January 2004.
- ^ The Guardian (Alfred Hickling) Louche cannon 10 October 2003
- ^ Bernard Holland, "What Use an Update if Hearts Beat Still the Same?". New York Times, 26 October 2004.
- ^ The Guardian (George Hall) La Clemenza di Tito 4 May 2005
- ^ Bernard Holland, "Haunted by the Deaths of Martyrs, a Century Apart". New York Times, 1 August 2005.
- ^ Anthony Tommasini, "A Lithuanian Soprano Creates Her Own Ariadne ". New York Times, 27 September 2005.
- ^ The Guardian (Tim Ashley) Ariadne auf Naxos 24 June 2004
- ^ The Observer (Anthony Holden) Even the corpse is fantastic
- ^ Jeremy Eichler, "Lushly Lamenting the Wages of Time and a Lost Golden Age". New York Times, 15 March 2005.
- ^ Ned Rorem and Susan Graham Decoration
- ^ Midland, Texas declares Sept 5 “Susan Graham Day”
- ^ The Guardian (Edward Greenfield) Other classical releases 4 February 2000
- ^ The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Other classical releases 31 March 2000
- ^ The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Pretty vacant 18 February 2000
- ^ The Guardian (Edward Greenfield) Classical CD releases 3 November 2000
- ^ The Guardian (Tim Ashley) Classical CD releases 6 April 2001
- ^ The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Classical CD releases 5 April 2002
- ^ BBC Classical Review (Andrew McGregor) Susan Graham at Carnegie Hall (includes audio samples)
- ^ New York (Peter G. Davis) Cosi Fan Tutte, Beatrice et Benedict, Susan Graham
- ^ WILLIAM DART On track: Album captures special occasion for Susan Graham The New Zealand Herald 26 November 2003
- ^ BBC Classical Review (Andrew McGregor) Ives: Concord Sonata, Songs, Pierre-Laurent Aimard/Susan Graham
- ^ The New York Times (Jeremy Eichler) The Best Classical CD's of 2004; IVES: SONGS, 'CONCORD' SONATA
- ^ The Observer (Anthony Holden) Ives, Piano Sonata No 2 'Concord' 16 May 2004
- ^ The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Ives: Piano Sonata No 2, Concorde; Songs: Graham/ Aimard 7 May 2004
- ^ The Guardian (Edward Greenfield) Barber: Vanessa, Brewer/ Graham/ Wyn-Rogers/ Burden/ Davies/ BBC Singers and SO/ Slatkin
- ^ BBC Classical Review (Andrew McGregor) Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, Susan Graham, Ian Bostridge etc (includes samples)
- ^ The New York Times (Allan Kozinn) The Best Classical CD's of 2004; PURCELL: 'DIDO AND AENEAS'
- ^ The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Chausson Poème de l'Amour et de la Mer; Ravel: Shéhérazade; Debussy (arr. Adams): Le Livre de Baudelaire: Graham/ BBC SO/ Tortelier 20 May 2005
- ^ The Observer (Anthony Holden) Debussy/Chausson/Ravel, Songs 15 May 2005
- ^ The Observer (Anthony Holden) Classical CDs: Mozart | Sacred Songs | Matthew Taylor 23 October 2005
[edit] External links
- Susan Graham's official website has much of the information you might need to know.
- Operabase performance schedule
- The FanFaire site includes some audio clips. The design of this site is rather quirky so you may have to rummage around a bit.
- The IMG Artists site includes a large photograph.
- Sony Classical has a biography and discography of her two Sony releases.
- The New York Times Susan Graham News NYT current and archive articles
- Opera Japonica 2001 interview
- Off with the trousers: The Texan opera singer Susan Graham is finally ditching the boys for some real heroines