This is the fifth time in forty years that the Santa Fe Opera has mounted a production of Offenbach’s satirical operetta THE GRAND DUCHESS OF GEROLSTEIN, but this time it was done for mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who looked stunning in the lush period costumes, sang exquisitely (most notably in the beautiful aria “Dites-lui” which is one of the few quiet moments in this rollicking comedy) and delivered the English language dialogue with great panache and delicious comic timing.
This role and this opera couldn’t have been a greater contrast to THE ASPERN PAPERS in which Susan Graham triumphed in Dallas a few months ago (and for which subscriber’s selected her as the recipient of this year’s Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award.). Read more →