Susan Graham Mezzo-soprano

Born in Texas, Susan Graham sings on the major international opera stages in roles ranging from Poppea (Monteverdi’s L'incoronazione di Poppea) to Sister Helen Prejean (Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking), which was written especially for her. These last seasons saw her take part in the premiere of A Standing Witness, a new work written for her by Richard Danielpour with text by Rita Dove, with Music from Copland House, sing the role of Hanna Glawari (The Merry Widow) in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s 2022 gala, and sing Geneviève (Pelléas et Mélisande) at the operas of Los Angeles and Santa Fe. She also sang Mrs. Patrick De Rocher in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s company premiere of Dead Man Walking, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. She was invited to take part in the national broadcast of the 46th Kennedy Center Honors Gala, in tribute to Renée Fleming, and also made her debut with Detroit Opera in Europeras 4.

The 2024/25 season sees Susan Graham sing the role of Desiree Armfeldt (A Little Night Music) in concert at Lincoln Center with the Orchestra of St. Lukes, and join the Boston Symphony Orchestra for a tribute gala to Maestro Andris Nelsons. She will also sing the Marquise de Berkenfield (La Fille du régiment) at Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, in a new production by Damiano Michieletto and the Baroness (Vanessa) with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. She also returns to Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Lukes for A Standing Witness.

At the Paris Opera: Così fan tutte (Dorabella), 1996; Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian), 1997; Alcina (Ruggiero), 1999; La clemenza di Tito (Sesto), 1999, 2005; Idomeneo (Idamante), 2002; Iphigénie en Tauride (Iphigénie), 2006; Werther (Charlotte), 2009; The Merry Widow (Hanna Glawari), 2012