Susan Graham sings Bernstein in Carnegie Hall
Susan Graham’s eventful 2008 season closes on December 13 when she joins baritone Rod Gilfry and pianists Jeremy Denk and Robert Spano at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall for the grand finale of “The Best of All Possible Worlds” – New York’s love-letter to the late Leonard Bernstein – performing his charming song-cycle Arias & Barcarolles as well as song from Songfest and La bonne cuisine. Ms. Graham returns to Carnegie Hall’s main stage with a host of colleagues on January 18, 2009, to celebrate the 75th birthday of Marilyn Horne.
Described by Time Out New York as “unbeatable in French repertoire,” Ms. Graham has won kudos from every critic attending the Metropolitan Opera’s stunning new high-concept production of Berlioz’s Damnation de Faust. The New York Times stated: “Susan Graham, an inspired choice as Marguérite, sounds terrific. She was especially fine in ‘D’amour, l’ardente flamme’ … [, bringing] a lovely blend of rapturous richness and elegant restraint to this wistful aria.” The “gorgeous mezzo … does wonders too, not only with superbly rendered arias, but scaling a dauntingly tall ladder to heaven,” wrote Gramophone on its website, while Variety stated flat-out:
“The most satisfying performer, not surprisingly, is Susan Graham, long known as a French-repertoire specialist. … [S]he is riveting onstage, and her rich lyric mezzo finds every expressive nuance without ever sounding forced. As always, this native of Roswell, New Mexico sings French as clearly as a Parisian.”
The Associated Press review singled out Graham for her “ideal voice for Berlioz – a mezzo with a dark richness that blossoms into lush soprano-like tones – and she’s a perfect instrument for the devil’s seduction of Faust’s pure soul.”
The morning after the premiere of La damnation de Faust, Ms. Graham graciously hosted John Adams’s Doctor Atomic (the season’s first transmission of The Met: Live in HD), introducing and interviewing guests and showing viewers around backstage. Her performance in La damnation de Faust was next up on international screens, being transmitted live from the Met on November 22.
Susan Graham performance calendar
December 13, 2008: Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall), New York, NY
“Bernstein: The Best of All Possible Worlds”
Bernstein: Arias & Barcarolles and other songs
Susan Graham and Rod Gilfry
Robert Spano and Jeremy Denk, pianists
Members of the Brooklyn Philharmonic
www.carnegiehall.org
January 18, 2009: Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
Marilyn Horne Foundation Gala
www.marilynhornefdn.org
For Susan Graham’s full performance calendar, please visit: www.susangraham.com