Susanna Phillips
By Martha Baker, Apprentice Watch Editor
A proud daughter of Huntsville, Alabama, Susanna Phillips was one of the Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Singers in 2004. She went on to her Metropolitan Opera debut as Musetta in La bohème in 2008 and will make her first appearance in the role of Mimi at the Met in May 2023. She has also appeared on that iconic stage in the principal roles of Pamina, Donna Anna, Rosalinde, Antonia/Stella, Micaëla, Donna Elvira, Countess Almaviva, and Fiordigili over the last 12 consecutive seasons. She served as host for selected The Met: Live in HD broadcasts, including the performance of Norma starring Sondra Radvanovsky and Joyce DiDonato (another Santa Fe Apprentice alum).
With a strong interest in recitals and chamber music, Susannah Phillips is in demand among leading orchestras and other performance groups. She sang the role of Rose in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ world premiere of Tobias Picker’s Awakenings, based on the book by Dr. Oliver Sacks. Of that performance, one reviewer raved, “There is not a moment that is not laser-focused on showing us this is a person who, once released from her affliction, is aching for her long-gone love to return … She is possessed of a ravishing instrument that is meticulously controlled in all registers … She is in complete command of her resources, and our hearts.”
Ms. Phillips performed on the Santa Fe Opera stage in our 2015 production of Mozart’s La finta giardiniera, sang the role of Pamina in The Magic Flute in 2007, and graced the stage at the 2006 50th Anniversary Gala. She was scheduled to sing the female lead in 2020’s Lord of Cries but withdrew from the production shortly before its world premiere because the part was better suited to a different voice type.
In addition to being a Santa Fe Opera Singing Apprentice, Ms. Phillips’ career as a young artist included training at the respected Ryan Center program at Lyric Opera of Chicago. She earned both undergrad and graduate degrees from The Juilliard School. Here is a LINK to her website.