This spring, Grammy Award-winning mezzo Susan Graham revisits her signature interpretation of Ravel's Shéhérazade in performances with the San Francisco Symphony under Yan Pascal Tortelier (April 19-21). She then makes her title role debut in Marc Blitzstein's Regina at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (May 26-June 24), in a production that marks the 30th anniversary of her company and leading-role debuts. After three glorious decades at the highest echelons of the opera world, there is still, as the New York Times put it, "no more satisfying singer than this eminent mezzo-soprano, with her rich, even voice, exquisite musicianship, and warm presence."
One of today's foremost exponents of French vocal music, Graham has been recognized with the French government's prestigious honorific "Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur," and Time Out New York calls her "unbeatable in French repertoire." Her recording of Ravel's Shéhérazade, made with Seiji Ozawa for Decca, scored a five-star review in The Guardian, while Gramophone declared her performance "magically sensuous." In an interview with the same magazine, the mezzo explained the song cycle's appeal for her: "This is such a great story to tell, because it has so many colours and textures and sensualities. It's rich in text painting and tastes and flavours and smells, images and drama, killing and brutality and gruesomeness. There are so many opportunities for me." This spring, Ravel's masterpiece takes her back to the San Francisco Symphony, where her recent appearances include partnering Renée Fleming at last season's opening-night gala, and headlining a "mesmerizing La morte de Cléopâtre ... [that] was nothing short of riveting" (Mercury News).After these spring engagements, the mezzo looks forward to a similarly high-profile summer. She will headline Caramoor's season-closing concert with selections from some of her most celebrated Handel and Mozart roles with the Orchestra of St. Luke's and principal conductor Bernard Labadie (July 29), before heading to Tanglewood. There she reunites with the Boston Symphony and music director Andris Nelsons to reprise their interpretation of Mahler's monumental Third Symphony (Aug 24), which was proclaimed "unsurpassed in BSO annals" (Boston Classical Music Scene) this past January. The following day, she rejoins the orchestra to grace the "Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood" in company with a host of her fellow luminaries of the music world, Yo-Yo Ma, Audra McDonald, and Michael Tilson
Photo: Dario Acosta
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