Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

April 26, 1935 in Springdale, PA

Death

:

November 21, 2013 in San Francisco, CA

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Conrad Susa was an American composer of classical music, known for his operas, choral works, and orchestral pieces. He was born on April 26, 1935, in Springdale, Pennsylvania, and grew up in McKeesport, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Susa's parents were both musicians, and he began studying piano and composition at a young age. Susa attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he studied composition with Walter Piston and Roger Sessions. He also studied at the Paris Conservatory with Nadia Boulanger, a renowned teacher of composition. Susa received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon in 1958 and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Princeton University in 1961. Susa's early works were influenced by the serialist style of composition, which was popular in the mid-20th century. However, he later moved away from this style and began incorporating tonal elements into his music. His compositions often featured lush harmonies, lyrical melodies, and intricate counterpoint. One of Susa's most famous works is his opera "Transformations," which premiered in 1973. The opera is based on the poetry of Anne Sexton, a confessional poet who struggled with mental illness and committed suicide in 1974. "Transformations" is a dark and surreal work that explores themes of death, transformation, and the human psyche. The opera has been performed all over the world and is considered a masterpiece of contemporary opera. Susa also wrote several other operas, including "The Love of Don Perlimplin and Belisa in the Garden," "Black River," and "The Dangerous Liaisons." His choral works include "Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest," which features traditional Christmas carols from Mexico and the Southwest United States, and "The Christmas Story," which is a retelling of the Nativity story. In addition to his operas and choral works, Susa wrote several orchestral pieces, including "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra," "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," and "Symphony No. 1." He also wrote music for ballets, plays, and films. Susa was a prolific composer who received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He was a Guggenheim Fellow, a recipient of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Music, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also served as the composer-in-residence for the San Francisco Symphony and the Choral Director for the San Francisco Opera. Susa died on November 21, 2013, at the age of 78. His legacy as a composer of classical music lives on through his many works, which continue to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world.

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