Suzanna Guzmán

The Rock world’s loss is the Opera world’s gain. Until she lost her voice singing in rock bands and was tricked by her voice teacher into auditioning for an opera, Mezzo Soprano Suzanna Guzmán never intended to become an operatic sensation and international star, much less Cal Phil’s Artist in Residence.

After that first pivotal audition, Suzanna was cast in the title role of Bizet's opera Carmen, which became her signature role. Hailed by Time magazine as "a fire eating, singing actress" and by the New York Times as “a rarity…a mezzo soprano who does not sound like an undeveloped soprano,” she has appeared as a principal artist with numerous international opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Dallas Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Washington National Opera, Edinburgh Grand Opera, Dresden Opera, Opera de Nice, and Grand Theatre de Geneve, among many others.

Future engagements include performances in Suor Angelica/Cavalleria Rusticana with the Orlando Opera and The Marriage of Figaro with the Dallas Opera. Suzanna will also appear as alto soloist in Mahler's Symphony No. 2 with the Sarasota Symphony. Every December, she plays the Virgin of Guadalupe in the Latino Theater Company's production of Dios Inatzin at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and, recently, in Sacramento, was featured in Maria Shriver's exhibit Latinas: the Spirit of California, honoring remarkable women of California.

Suzanna was also a featured soloist on the 2006 Best Classical Grammy nominated CD, Carlos Chavez: Complete Works and, on the Fall 2008 CD release of Amor de los Amores, featuring reknowned Latina cellist Maria Elena Gaetan, sings the title cut. In addition, Suzanna has appeared as a host on 105.1 KMozart's weekly broadcasts of Opera Notes on Air with Rich Capperela and was the writer, producer, and host of over 150 broadcasts of the weekly Sunday Evening Opera and L.A. Opera: LIVE!

When not regaling audiences over the airwaves or in opera houses and concert halls worldwide, Suzanna “serves like a madwoman” on the boards of many Los Angeles’ Arts Education non-profit organizations.  These include the Pasadena Arts Council, UCLA’S Design for Sharing, the Board of Advisors of the USC Thornton School of Music, and Discover the Arts, the flagship LAUSD Arts High School opening in 2009.  

She has also received rave reviews for her ‘performance’ as a member of the Los Angeles Opera’s Education Committee from Plácido Domingo, General Director of Los Angeles Opera.  “Suzanna plays a critical role in my efforts to develop the new generation of opera lovers,” he says. “She is not only an excellent singer and actress and personality, but she has a special soul in meeting with people in general."

Yet, for all the acclaim and accolades she receives, Suzanna’s favorite and greatest role involves being the mother of her teenage son Conor...sitting third row to the side and trying not to cry out "Great shot, sweetie" at every water polo game he plays.