This month, SUNY Fredonia will welcome renowned mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer to campus. Ms. Mentzer, who serves as Professor of Voice at Rice University's Shepherd School, will visit SUNY Fredonia Feb. 10-12.
Mentzer will conduct two master classes and give a recital, providing students with the opportunity to perform for her while learning and absorbing new techniques. The master classes will be held in Rosch Recital Hall on Friday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. Tickets are required for admission, although the event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available at the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office, located in the Temporary Office Complex in the Dods Hall lot. In addition, Mentzer will perform her own recital on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. in Rosch. Tickets are $8 for students and $15 for the general public.
Mentzer attended The Juilliard School where she received both her bachelor's and master's degree in music and trained with the Houston Opera Studio. In addition to Rice, she has taught at DePaul University in Chicago and the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado.
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Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer will visit SUNY Fredonia Feb. 10-12 to perform a recital and lead two master classes.
Her musical contribution and dedication has earned her recognition such as the Alexian Brothers' USA Thelen Award for her active involvement in raising money for Bonaventure House in Chicago. She also earned a Grammy nomination for her work in Ferruccio Busoni's "Arlecchio." Since 1989, Mentzer has continuously fulfilled leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera.
She has taken on noted female roles such as Cherubino in "Le Nozze di Figaro" and Der Komponist in "Ariadne auf Naxos." Some of her recent acclaimed works include Berlioz' "L'enfance du Christ" in Madrid and Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" in Tuscon, Ariz., and she has also appeared with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in "Sweeny Todd" as a Beggar Woman.
She has performed in recitals in Houston, Texas; Aspen, Colo.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Carmel Valley, Calif.; and Calgary, Alberta. Mentzer has also performed with the Baltimore Symphony with conductor Marin Alsop.
Currently available on DVD featuring Mentzer is "Les Contes d'Hoffmann," "Ariadne auf Naxos," "The First Emperor" and "Don Giovanni." Some of her discography works include "Wayfaring Stranger," featuring Grammy-winning Sharon Isbin on guitar, and "The Eternal Feminine," featuring select works from female composers with Craig Rutenberg on piano.
Mentzer built her career globally by performing all over North America, South America, Europe and Japan. She has worked and collaborated with other renowned names such as Kevin Levine, Niccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, Loren Maazel, and a wide variety of other talented conductors and singers. She is also a board member on both the George London Foundation and W.M Sullivan Foundation, two organizations supporting the talent of young singers.
Opera News stated, "The mezzo's vocally impeccable, emotionally compelling performance proved that she is among the premier art-song interpreters of our day. Her rich, vibrant sound retains its warmth from top to bottom and throughout its broad dynamic range, and she draws the listener into the spirit of each song with a deep internal connection that creates distinctive characters with a minimum of outward display."
These events are open to all audiences and are being coordinated by the Student Opera Theatre Association (SOTA). To learn more, contact SOTA Publicity Chair Laura Giberson at gibe9031@fredonia.edu or 244-2446.
