Evans Mirageas sits down with soprano Susanna Phillips, who sung the role of Countess Almaviva in Cincinnati Opera’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro.” Evans and Susanna discuss her distinct voice, how one begins a career, the fulfillment of motherhood and balancing life with career, and how to be yourself. Susanna’s piece of advice? “Do you. Don’t try to be anyone else.”
Show Notes:
Jessye Norman is an American opera singer and recitalist.
Susanna is from Huntsville, Alabama where she attended Randolph School. She received Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School. After completing her master's degree in 2004, she became a member of Santa Fe Opera's Apprentice Program for Singers.
Madame Butterfly is an opera by Giacomo Puccini.
Leave It to Beaver is a late 1950s black-and-white American television sitcom about an inquisitive and often naïve boy.
Susanna originally wanted to attend the following higher education institutions: Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, Samford University, and Furman University.
The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through 2013 (when it filed for bankruptcy), and again since 2016 when it was revived.
New York Philharmonic Orchestra(NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is an orchestra based in New York City.
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue located in Manhattan in New York City.
Operalia, The World Opera Competition is an annual international competition for young opera singers. Founded in 1993 by Plácido Domingo, the competition has helped launch the careers of several important artists.
The Music Academy of the West is a summer music conservatory located in Montecito, California. Participation is merit-based and tuition free.
Marilyn Horne is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer.
Matthew Epstein is the Director of Vocal Divisions at Columbia Artists Management, Inc.
Cynthia Hoffmann is a member of the voice faculties of Manhattan School of Music, where she also teaches a class in Vocal Performance, and of the Juilliard School, where she served as Chair from 1995 to 2006.
Matthew A. Horner is the Executive Vice President - Global Head of Vocal for IMG Artists, New York.
Countess Rosina Almaviva is a character in The Marriage of Figaro, an opera buffa composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Birdie is a character in Regina, an opera by Marc Blitzstein.
Musetta is a character in La bohème, an opera by Giacomo Puccini.
Fiordiligi is a character in Così fan tutte an opera by Mozart.
Agrippina is a character in an opera of the same name by George Frideric Handel.
Don Giovanni is an opera by Mozart. Donna Anna, Don Giovanni’s daughter, and Donna Elvira, a lady of Burgos abandoned by Don Giovanni, are characters in the opera.
Arabella and Der Rosenkavalier are comic operas by Richard Strauss
Daphne is a one-act opera by Richard Strauss.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is an American summer opera festival held in St. Louis, Missouri.
Kaija Saariaho is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France.
Renée Fleming is an American soprano, known for performances in opera, concerts, recordings, theater, film, and at major public occasions.
Julian Bream is an English virtuoso classical guitarist and lutenist. One of the most distinguished classical guitarists of the 20th century, he played a significant role in improving the public perception of the classical guitar as a respectable instrument.
Natalie Dessay is a French singer and actress who had a highly acclaimed career as an operatic coloratura soprano before leaving the opera stage on 15 October 2013. She is married to the bass-baritone Laurent Naouri.
Violetta is a character in the opera La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi.
Cleopatra is a character in the opera Antony and Cleopatra, an opera by American composer Samuel Barber.
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves is a 2013 novel by the American writer Karen Joy Fowler.
Fresh Air is a podcast hosted by Terry Gross, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.
White Lies is an NPR podcast. More information can be found here.
The Eagle OTR and Salazar are restaurants in Cincinnati.
Dolly Parton is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian, known primarily for her work in country music.