Susan Quittmeyer

{{short description|American mezzo-soprano (born 1953)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Susan Quittmeyer | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Susan Louise Quittmeyer | alias = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1953}} | birth_place = | origin = United States | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = Opera | occupation = Mezzo-soprano | instrument = | years_active =  | label = | website =  }} '''Susan Louise Quittmeyer''' (born 1953) is an American mezzo-soprano.

== Biography == Raised in Port Washington, New York, she attended Illinois Wesleyan University,<ref name="rutgers.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www.masongross.rutgers.edu/content/susan-quittmeyer-mezzo-soprano|title=Susan Quittmeyer, Mezzo-Soprano – Mason Gross School of the Arts|publisher=|accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref> and is a 1978 graduate of the Manhattan School of Music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msmnyc.edu/Offices/Alumni/Virtual-Yearbooks/1990s|title=1990s|first=Manhattan School of|last=Music|publisher=|accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref> She created the roles of Hermione in John Harbison's ''A Winter's Tale'' in 1979 and Elmire in Kirke Mechem's ''Tartuffe'' in 1980, both for San Francisco Opera's American Opera Project, and sang Ariel in the world premiere of John Eaton's ''The Tempest'' in 1985 at Santa Fe Opera.<ref name="Wlaschin2006">{{cite book|author=Ken Wlaschin|title=Encyclopedia of American Opera|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SBkKAQAAMAAJ|year=2006|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-2109-1}}</ref> With her husband, the bass-baritone James Morris, she has twin children, Daniel and Jennifer.<ref>Kelly, Denis J. [http://newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/world-class-singer-charms-audience-wins-two-encores-at-benefit/article_7640743a-1831-57af-b32b-629cc82d94b5.html "World-class singer charms audience, wins two encores at benefit for Warren Public Schools"], ''Echoes-Sentinel'', March 6, 2009. Accessed October 21, 2015. "Acclaimed Metropolitan opera star James Morris, who lives in Warren Township, charmed an audience of more than 250 on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the performing arts center at Watchung Hills Regional High School."</ref> A previous marriage ended in divorce.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/04/style/susan-quittmeyer-weds-james-morris.html|title=Susan Quittmeyer Weds James Morris|date=4 January 1987|work=The New York Times|accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref> She made her European debut in 1985 at the Opéra du Rhin as the Composer in ''Ariadne auf Naxos'', and bowed at the Metropolitan Opera as Nicklausse in ''Les Contes d'Hoffmann'' in 1987,<ref name="rutgers.edu" /> a performance which also marked the company debut of conductor Charles Dutoit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=290920&limit=50&xBranch=ALL&xsdate=&xedate=&theterm=Quittmeyer,%20Susan%20%5BMezzo%20Soprano%5D&x=0&xhomepath=&xhome=|title=Les Contes d'Hoffmann|first=|last=|publisher=Inmagic, Inc.|accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref> and which was telecast on PBS.<ref name="rutgers.edu" />

In total she performed at the Met 41 times over five seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/gisrch2k.r?Term=Quittmeyer,%20Susan%20%5BMezzo%20Soprano%5D&limit=50&vsrchtype=no&xBranch=ALL&xmtype=&Start=&End=&theterm=Quittmeyer,%20Susan%20%5BMezzo%20Soprano%5D&srt=&x=0&xHome=&xHomePath=|title=Susan Quittmeyer at the Metropolitan Opera Archives|first=|last=|publisher=Inmagic, Inc.|accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref>

Currently Quittmeyer teaches voice at the Mason Gross School of the Arts.<ref name="rutgers.edu" />

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quittmeyer, Susan}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:American operatic mezzo-sopranos Category:People from Port Washington, New York Category:People from Baxter Estates, New York Category:Singers from New York (state) Category:Illinois Wesleyan University alumni Category:Manhattan School of Music alumni Category:Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School alumni Category:20th-century American women opera singers Category:21st-century American women opera singers Category:Classical musicians from New York (state)