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Susan Graham (born 1960) is a mezzo-soprano classical singer. She was born in Roswell, New Mexico, USA and raised in Midland, Texas. She is graduate of Manhattan School of Music. She is a US delegate for UNESCO.U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Susan GrahamMrs. Bush's Remarks to UNESCO Plenary Session in Paris

Opera roles

Her operatic roles include:

• Samuel Barber Vanessa (Erika)The Observer (Anthony Holden) Vanessa, you've been a very lucky girl 23 November 2003The Guardian (Tim Ashley) Vanessa 18 November 2003
• Hector Berlioz Béatrice et Bénédict (Béatrice) 1997Philip Anson Béatrice et Bénédict: Bis! 1 July 1997
• Christoph Willibald Gluck Iphigénie en Tauride (Iphigénie)The Guardian (Edward Greenfield) A new leash of life 19 August 2000
• George Frideric Handel Alcina (Ruggerio)Renée Fleming Fifty ways to sing about love
• John Harbison Great Gatsby (Jordan Baker) 1999The Guardian (Martin Kettle) Great Scott! Jay and Daisy bring the jazz age to the Met
• Jake Heggie Dead Man Walking (Sister Helen Prejean)
• Jules Massenet
  • Werther (Charlotte)
  • Chérubin Royal Opera HouseThe Guardian (Alfred Hickling) Louche cannon 10 October 2003
• Claudio Monteverdi L'incoronazione di Poppea (Poppea)
• Tobias Picker An American Tragedy (Sondra Finchley) Metropolitan Opera world premiere
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira) Lyric Opera of Chicago
  • Idomeneo (Idamante) Houston Grand Opera
  • La clemenza di Tito (Sesto) Opéra National de Paris and concert performancesThe Guardian (George Hall) La Clemenza di Tito 4 May 2005
  • Le Nozze di Figaro (Cherubino) Metropolitan Opera
  • Lucio Silla (Cecilio) Santa Fe
• Richard Strauss
  • Ariadne auf Naxos (Composer) Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House,The Guardian (Tim Ashley) Ariadne auf Naxos 24 June 2004 and GlyndebourneThe Observer (Anthony Holden) Even the corpse is fantastic
  • Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian)

Awards

• 2001 Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters Ned Rorem and Susan Graham Decoration
• 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"Midland, Texas declares Sept 5 “Susan Graham Day”

Some of the recordings have also received awards. See below.

Recordings

Susan'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 466 314-2The Guardian (Edward Greenfield) Other classical releases 4 February 2000
  • 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 80222The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Other classical releases 31 March 2000
  • 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 80233The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Pretty vacant 18 February 2000
  • Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ; Three Irlande songs; Sara la baigneuse Susan Graham, François Le Roux, John Mark Ainsley, Montreal SO and Chorus, Dutoit. DeccaThe Guardian (Edward Greenfield) Classical CD releases 3 November 2000

• 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)The Guardian (Tim Ashley) Classical CD releases 6 April 2001
• 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 86238-2The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Classical CD releases 5 April 2002
  • 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 60295-2BBC 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
• 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 60297-2BBC Classical Review (Andrew McGregor) Ives: Concord Sonata, Songs, Pierre-Laurent Aimard/Susan GrahamThe New York Times (Jeremy Eichler) The Best Classical CD's of 2004; IVES: SONGS, 'CONCORD' SONATAThe Observer (Anthony Holden) Ives, Piano Sonata No 2 'Concord' 16 May 2004The Guardian (Andrew Clements) Ives: Piano Sonata No 2, Concorde; Songs: Graham/ Aimard 7 May 2004
  • 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 5032The Guardian (Edward Greenfield) Barber: Vanessa, Brewer/ Graham/ Wyn-Rogers/ Burden/ Davies/ BBC Singers and SO/ Slatkin
  • 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 LyriqueBBC 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'

• 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)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 2005The Observer (Anthony Holden) Debussy/Chausson/Ravel, Songs 15 May 2005
  • 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 Englebert Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel.The Observer (Anthony Holden) Classical CDs: Mozart | Sacred Songs | Matthew Taylor 23 October 2005
• 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.

References

External links

• Susan Graham's official website has much of the information you might need to know.
• 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
• The Guardian (Martin Kettle) America's most wanted Interview 10 December 2004

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