for A Concert of Best Loved Operetta on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 3:00 pm
at The Spears Recital Hall on Columbia College Campus.
Susanne Burgess is a young operatic soprano with a sizeable and remarkably warm voice. She has been praised for her unique penchant for dramatic coloratura, emotional expression, and stage presence.
Born in Geneva, Switzerland and raised in five countries including Great Britain, Germany and the United States, Susanne developed an early ear for language and deep appreciation for world cultures. It wasn't until high school in Austin, Texas that Susanne found the unique voice that would define her passion and career in opera.
In June of 2013, Ms. Burgess graduated, Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Music from the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music. During her time at university, Susanne was awarded a Full-Tuition Operatic Merit Scholarship as well as the Dean’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence. While enrolled in the prestigious opera program, under the direction of world-renowned bass, Kenneth Cox, Susanne performed many fully staged and orchestrated roles both in the US and Europe such as Pamina in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE (Tuscia Opera Festival), Nella in GIANNI SCHICCHI (Lamont), Rosalinda in DIE FLEDERMAUS (Lamont) and was granted Soprano Solos in the LSO Performances of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony and Elija.
This year, Susanne makes her debut with New York City Opera as Hannah in the World Premiere of DEAR ERICH by Ted Rosenthal. Earlier this summer, she made her international debut as Anna in LE VILLI and Lauretta in GIANNI SCHICCHI with the Festival of the Aegean in Athens and Syros Greece. In her young career, Susanne has performed roles with several regional opera companies and Artist Programs including Des Moines Metro Opera, MidAtlantic Opera, Dicapo Opera Theater. Tanglewood Festival, Tuscia Opera Festival, MidAmerica Productions, New York Lyric Opera and Opera in the Ozarks, in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Cary Hall. These include Violetta in LA TRAVIATA, Nedda in PAGLIACCI, Lady Billows in ALBERT HERRING, Micaëla in CARMEN, Fiordiligi in COSI FAN TUTTE, Antonia/Giulietta in LES CONTES D’HOFFMAN, Gerhilde in DIE WALKÜRE, Countess in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Mother in HANSEL AND GRETEL, Pamina in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, and Giannetta in L’ELISIR D’AMORE, among others.
Ms. Burgess has also won a number for post-graduate awards and grants for operatic excellence. These include: Operatic Merit Scholarship from the Denver Lyric Opera Guild, Encouragement award from The Metropolitan Opera National Council, The Martha Mack Award for Operatic Excellence from the National Federation of Music Clubs, Semi-Finalist with the Opera Theater Pittsburgh Mildred Miller Competition, Semi-Finalist with the Jensen Foundation Opera Competition.
Susanne has an Italian-inspired technique with a keen musical brain for 18th and 19th century music as well as an affinity for modern works. She plans to bring a high level of talent, dedication, and passion to creating music beautifully in an international operatic career.
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