Susan Graham (Mezzo-soprano)
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. 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 dйbut at Covent Garden in 1994, playing
Massenet's Chйrubin. She has also premiиred 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).
Graham is a noted champion of the French song repertoire and of songs by
contemporary American composers, including Ned Rorem and Lowell Liebermann.
Graham made her Carnegie Hall recital debut in April 2003, and a recording of
this recital was later released.
Graham sang "Bless This House" at George W. Bush's second inauguration on
January 20, 2005, and Schubert's "Ave Maria" at the nationally televised funeral
mass for Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts on August 29, 2009. She is a
US delegate for UNESCO.
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