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Ruth Ann Swenson | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1959-08-25)August 25, 1959 (age 65) Bronxville, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Operaticsoprano |
| Years active | 1981–2010 |
| Spouse | David Burnakus |
Ruth Ann Swenson (born August 25, 1959) is an American soprano who is renowned for hercoloratura roles.
Born inBronxville, New York and raised inCommack, New York onLong Island, Swenson studied at theAcademy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and briefly atHartt College of Music inWest Hartford, Connecticut. In the early 1980s she joined theMerola Opera Program at theSan Francisco Opera and toured the country as Gilda inWestern Opera Theatre'sRigoletto.
Swenson made herSan Francisco Opera debut in 1983, as Despina inMozart'sCosì fan tutte. But her breakthrough role was Dorinda the shepherdess inHandel'sOrlando opposite mezzoMarilyn Horne. HerMetropolitan Opera debut came in 1991, as Zerlina in Mozart'sDon Giovanni. In 1993, she won theRichard Tucker Music Foundation Award.[1]
Swenson has appeared on many opera stages, including theOpéra National de Paris, theRoyal Opera House atCovent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, theBerlin State Opera, theGrand Théâtre de Genève, theHamburg State Opera, theBavarian State Opera and theChicago Lyric Opera.
Roles she has played include Liù inTurandot, Rosina inThe Barber of Seville, the Four Heroines inThe Tales of Hoffmann, Elvira inI Puritani, Zerbinetta inAriadne auf Naxos, Gilda inRigoletto (49 performances at the Met alone), Juliette inRoméo et Juliette and Giulietta inI Capuleti e i Montecchi, Violetta inLa traviata, Lucia inLucia di Lammermoor, Adina inL'elisir d'amore, Marguerite inFaust, the Countess inThe Marriage of Figaro, and Rodelinda inRodelinda.
Swenson received an honorary doctorate degree in April 2006 from theSan Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she has taught master classes.[1]
In March 2007, she returned to the stage of theMetropolitan Opera, singing the role of Marguerite inFaust.[2] The March 17 performance was broadcast internationally. On April 21, 2007, she performed the role of Cleopatra in Handel'sGiulio Cesare at the Met.[3] However, Swenson was unhappy with Metropolitan's General ManagerPeter Gelb's apparent decision not to use her as much as his predecessorJoseph Volpe had.[3] Swenson stated: "It’s hurtful. I’m a New Yorker. I’ve sung here for many, many years. I’ve had great success. I’ve never let them down. It’s so stressful to get up onstage and realize that the top guy doesn’t like you, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Nothing."[3]
In May 2007 she again sang Marguerite at the Cincinnati Opera, and sang the role of Hannah Glawari in theDallas Opera'sThe Merry Widow in November–December 2007 oppositeRod Gilfry.
In June 2008 she sang Ginevra inHandel'sAriodante opposite mezzoSusan Graham at the San Francisco Opera, a production that marked Swenson's 25th anniversary with the company.[4] Also in 2008, she sang Violetta at the Metropolitan Opera.
On July 6, 2008, Swenson was awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal, the company's highest artistic honor. According toDavid Gockley, General Director of the San Francisco Opera, "Swenson has had a long and illustrious history with this Company, and we are thrilled to honor her significant contributions to San Francisco Opera and the performing arts in this way."[2]
She returned to the Met in 2010 as Musetta inLa bohème.
Swenson was diagnosed withbreast cancer and underwent surgery in October 2006 atMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She receivedchemotherapy treatment as a precautionary measure following surgery.[1]
Swenson is married to baritone David Burnakus.[3]
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