- Susan Dunn
Susan Dunn (b. 1954) is an award winning American
spinto soprano who has graced many of the world's finestopera houses , concert halls, and theaters inoperas ,oratorios , and concert performances. Dunn is particularly admired for her portrayals ofVerdi heroines. She currently lives inDurham, NC where she works as a professor of vocal music atDuke University . [ [http://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/Music/faculty/opera/cv.html Curriculum Vitae of Susan Dunn ] ]Early Life and Education
Susan Dunn was born on
July 23 ,1954 inMalvern, Arkansas to A.C. and Cynthia Dunn and grew up inBauxite, Arkansas . Dunn has a younger sister, Phyllis Dunn Jankowski. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242778/ Susan Dunn (II) ] ] Dunn credits her childhood musical experiences at New Hope United Methodist Church as fostering an early love for singing within her. Her first solo was in Bible School at the age of 5. Dunn would remain active in her church's music program throughout her childhood and teenage years. When Dunn was in sixth grade, she convinced her parents to buy her apiano and began taking piano lessons every Saturday for many years in Benton, Ark. Dunn graduated fromBauxite High School in 1972. [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]Although Dunn’s parents were not college educated, they were determined that their two children would attend college and receive the finest education available to them. She entered
Hendrix College in 1972 where she studied vocal music with Harold Thompson. After graduating from Hendrix College in 1976, Dunn went on to graduate studies atIndiana University from which she earned a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance in 1980. Dunn continued her studies at theUniversity of Illinois privately with renowned vocal coach and accompanistJohn Wustman . While studying with Wustman, Dunn won several prestegious vocal competitions and awards including theD'Angelo Young Artist Competition , theMetropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and theOpera Company of Philadelphia 'sLuciano Pavarotti International Vocal Competition . In 1983, Dunn won three more honors including the covetedRichard Tucker Award , Chicago's WGN-Illinois Opera Competition and theDallas Morning News 'G.B. Dealey Award . [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2040 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn '76 ] ]Career
Dunn began her professional performing career in the early 1980s appearing in
operas with good regional companies in the United States. She made her professional debut in 1982 in the title role ofVerdi 's "Aida " with thePeoria Civic Opera . [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE0DA1139F93BA25755C0A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 MUSIC; A Verdi Soprano Treads Carefully In Career Moves - New York Times ] ] After winning several major awards and competitions, Dunn's career began to take off. In 1985 she sang Sieglinde in "Die Walküre " atCarnegie Hall . In 1986, Dunn made her debut atAvery Fisher Hall withZubin Mehta and theNew York Philharmonic as the soprano soloist in a production ofVerdi 's "Requiem". That same year she made her European debut as Hélène in "Les vêpres siciliennes " at theTeatro Comunale and her debut atLa Scala as Aida. [David Cummings: "Susan Dunn", "Grove Music Online"]In 1987, Dunn made her debut with
Cincinnati Opera as Desdemona inVerdi 's "Otello ". Dunn reprised the role the following year in her debut withOpera Australia . Dunn made several other debuts in 1988 including the role of Leonora inVerdi 's "Il trovatore " withSan Diego Opera , Leonora inVerdi 's "La forza del destino " withLyric Opera of Chicago , and Elisabetta inVerdi 's "Don Carlo " withDallas Opera . [ [http://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/Music/faculty/opera/cv.html Curriculum Vitae of Susan Dunn ] ] Dunn also sang withJames Conlon and theOrchestra of the Maggio Musicale at the 1988Edinburgh International Festival . In 1989, Dunn made her debut with theVienna State Opera as Amelia inVerdi 's "Un ballo in maschera " and reprised the role later that year in her debut with theHouston Grand Opera . Dunn also recordedVerdi 's "Requiem" withRobert Shaw and theAtlanta Symphony that year which went on to win aGrammy Award . [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2040 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn '76 ] ]In 1990, Dunn made her debut with the
Metropolitan Opera as Leonora inVerdi 's "Il trovatore " and herCarnegie Hall debut with theOpera Orchestra of New York as Elena inVerdi 's "I vespri siciliani ". In 1991, Dunn made herCologne Opera debut as Amelia inVerdi 's "Simon Boccanegra ". In 1992, Dunn made her debut atLondon 'sAlbert Hall with theLondon Symphony Orchestra . [ [http://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/Music/faculty/opera/cv.html Curriculum Vitae of Susan Dunn ] ] Dunn continued to be a prominent figure on the opera stage until the mid 1990s when she decided to take a teaching position atDuke University . Dunn has appeared with other notable companies such as theSan Francisco Opera ,Washington National Opera andPittsburgh Opera . [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]Dunn has also performed with several notable orchestras including the
Orchestre de Paris , theRotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra , theRoyal Concertgebouw Orchestra , theAmerican Symphony Orchestra , theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra , theBerlin Radio Symphony Orchestra , thePittsburgh Symphony Orchestra , theChicago Symphony , and theMinnesota Orchestra among others. [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]Dunn has performed at several notable music festivals including the
Tanglewood Festival , theCincinnati May Festival , theRavinia Festival ,Wolf Trap , theCasals Festival , theFestival Saint Denis and theNorthwest Chamber Music Festival among others. [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]Dunn has worked with some of the world’s best conductors, including
Sir Georg Solti ,Riccardo Chailly ,Claudio Abbado ,James Conlon ,Lorin Maazel ,Seiji Ozawa ,Edo de Waart ,Zubin Mehta andDaniel Barenboim among others. [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]Throughout her career, Dunn has performed as a solo recitalist and chamber musician singing at such places as
Avery Fisher Hall andLincoln Center among others. [ [http://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/Music/faculty/opera/cv.html Curriculum Vitae of Susan Dunn ] ]Although Dunn still performs professionally, she spends most of her time heading the vocal music program and Opera Workshop at
Duke University . [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]Opera Roles
:* Abigaille, "
Nabucco " (Verdi ):* Aïda, "Aïda " (Verdi ):* Amalia, "I masnadieri " (Verdi ):* Amelia, "Un ballo in maschera " (Verdi ):* Desdemona, "Otello " (Verdi ):* Donna Anna, "Don Giovanni " (Mozart ):* Elena, "I vespri siciliani " (Verdi ):* Elisabetta, "Don Carlos " (Verdi ):* Giovanna, "Giovanna d'Arco " (Verdi ):* Giulietta di Kelbar, "Un giorno di regno " (Verdi ):* Lady Macbeth, "Macbeth " (Verdi ):* Leonora, "Il trovatore " (Verdi ):* Leonora, "La forza del destino " (Verdi ):* Maria/Amelia, "Simon Boccanegra " (Verdi ):* Odabella, "Attila " (Verdi ):* Sieglinde, "Die Walküre " (Wagner ):* Suor Angelica, "Suor Angelica " (Puccini )Personal Life
Dunn is married to American conductor and composer
Scott Tilley . [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]elected Discography
* "Beethoven: Mass in C" with
Riccardo Chailly and theBerlin Radio Symphony Orchestra , Decca Records, 1987.
* "Susan Dunn performs Verdi, Beethoven and Wagner" with the orchestra of theTeatro Comunale di Bologna andRiccardo Chailly , Polygram Records, 1990.
* "Verdi: Requiem & Operatic Choruses" withRobert Shaw and theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra , Telarc Records, 1990.
* "Arnold Schoenberg: Gurrelieder" withRiccardo Chailly and theBerlin Radio Symphony Orchestra , Polygram Records, 1991.
* "Mahler: Das klagende Lied" withRiccardo Chailly and theBerlin Radio Symphony Orchestra , Polygram Records, 1992.
* "Absolute Heaven" withRobert Shaw and theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra , Telarc Records, 1997.
* "Wagner :Die Walküre " withLorin Maazel and thePittsburgh Symphony Orchestra , Telarc Records, 2002.elected Television and DVD appearances
*
Verdi 's "I Vespri Siciliani " with Bologna Opera. Originally aired on television in 1986 and was released on DVD in 2005.
*Verdi 's "Giovanna d'Arco " with Bologna Opera. Originally aired on television in 1989 and was released on DVD in 2005.Honors and Awards
* Awarded the 1988
Hendrix College Distinguished Alumna award. [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]
* Named aUniversity of Illinois Distinguished Alumna [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2039 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn ’76 followed her dream to the Met and beyond ] ]
* Was awarded the 2005 Baccarat Award for achievement in the arts by the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation. [ [http://www.hendrix.edu/eventsnews/eventsnews.aspx?id=2040 Hendrix College - Susan Dunn '76 ] ]Watch and Listen
* To hear Dunn sing the title role in
Verdi 's "Giovanna d'Arco " click here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzV7mpbYQHs Watch here]
* To hear Dunn sing the title role inVerdi 's "Aida " oppositeLuciano Pavarotti click here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Ro1JK6gt4 Watch here]
* To hear Dunn sing the final movement fromVerdi 's "Requiem" with theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra click here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jBLyIQvNf0 Watch here]References
ources
*wikicite|id=idGroveMusicOnline|reference=David Cummings: "Susan Dunn", "Grove Music Online" ed. L. Macy (Accessed September 22, 2008), [http://www.grovemusic.com (subscription access)]
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