Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

July 23, 1960 in Roswell, NM

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Susan Graham is a renowned American mezzo-soprano who has established herself as one of the most versatile and accomplished classical music artists of her generation. Born on July 23, 1960, in Roswell, New Mexico, Graham grew up in Midland, Texas, where she developed a love for music at an early age. Her parents were both music teachers, and her father played the trumpet in a local band. Graham began singing in church choirs and school productions, and she soon realized that she had a natural talent for singing. Graham attended Texas Tech University, where she studied voice with Mary Jane Johnson. She later transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance. After graduation, Graham moved to New York City to pursue a career in opera. She studied with renowned voice teacher Ruth Falcon and made her professional debut in 1987 with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where she sang the role of Meg Page in Verdi's "Falstaff." Graham's career quickly took off, and she became known for her rich, warm voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1991 as Mélisande in Debussy's "Pelléas et Mélisande," and she has since performed in over 200 performances at the Met. Some of her most notable roles include Octavian in Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier," the title role in Bizet's "Carmen," and the Composer in Strauss's "Ariadne auf Naxos." Graham has also performed with many of the world's leading opera companies, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Paris Opera, and the Vienna State Opera. She has collaborated with some of the most renowned conductors and directors in the industry, including James Levine, Sir Simon Rattle, and Robert Carsen. Graham has also performed in concert halls around the world, singing with major orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Throughout her career, Graham has received numerous awards and accolades for her performances. She has won three Grammy Awards, including Best Classical Vocal Performance for her album "Symphony of Psalms" in 2003. She has also been awarded the French government's prestigious Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur and the Opera News Award for Distinguished Achievement. In 2015, she was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. One of Graham's most memorable performances was her portrayal of Sister Helen Prejean in Jake Heggie's opera "Dead Man Walking." The opera, based on the book by Sister Helen, tells the story of a nun who becomes a spiritual advisor to a death row inmate. Graham premiered the role in 2000 at the San Francisco Opera, and she has since performed it at the New York City Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Her performance in the role has been praised for its emotional depth and its ability to convey the complexity of the character. Another highlight of Graham's career was her performance in the Metropolitan Opera's production of "Der Rosenkavalier" in 2017. Graham sang the role of the Marschallin, a character who is torn between her love for a younger man and her duty to her husband. The production, directed by Robert Carsen, was praised for its innovative staging and its ability to bring new life to a classic opera. In addition to her work as a performer, Graham is also a dedicated teacher and mentor.

More....