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Susan Rode Morris Soprano Susan Rode Morris is a singer of unusual versatility whose accomplishments encompass a wide range of repertoire and musical styles. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she has received much critical acclaim for her expressiveness and naturalness in singing, as well as her communicative presence. She is a founding member of Ensemble Alcatraz and has sung with many ensembles including Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Sequentia Koln, Sex Chordae Consort of Viols, Foolia!, Magnificat!, Women's Philharmonic and others in North America and Europe. She has premiered numerous works of Bay Area composers, including opera and theatre pieces. Performances include appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C, Metropolitan Art Museum in New York City, the Cloisters, Bellas Artes in Mexico City, and in such cities as Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, New Orleans, Portland, Pittsburgh, London, Regensberg, Vancouver, and at such universities and colleges as Stanford, the University of California, Berkeley, and Davis, Oberlin College, and Washington State. She has enjoyed collaborations with artists including Shira Kammen, Phebe Craig, Judith Nelson, Alasdair Fraser, Paul Hillier, John Dornenburg, and others. In 1992 she founded a recording company called Donsuemor which has released four compact discs, including songs of Henry Purcell and three recordings of the songs of 18th century Scottish poet Robert Burns. For many years she has studied voice with the legendary Lilian Loran. A special love is teaching children the joy of singing. She owns a baking company (Donsuemor) which supplies the U.S. with fresh madeleines. She divides her time between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sierra Foothills.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"Soprano Susan Rode Morris sang with enormous versatility and dramatic insight. Her performances made each song come stirringly to life...vivid, strikingly beautiful performances, rendered with such emotional depth and polish... the overall effect was exhilarating and deeply moving." San Francisco Chronicle "Susan Rode Morris is a soprano with a voluptuous voice and an intensely focused delivery. In her corner of the musical world (early music) she's a superstar." San Francisco Examiner "I wasn't anticipating the exquisite beauty and artistry of Susan Rode Morris' singing. With the very first song, I was profiundly moved by her combination of sweetness and affect with clarity and control." Harpbeat of the Bay "While these strains by Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne, traditionally signal the end of the year, we will remember this music and its singer. This wonderful performance by Susan Rode Morris engendered more response from listeners that just about any recording we can remember in this or any other year." Martin Goldsmith, Performance Today, National Public Radio "Seldom have these songs been given such thoughtful renditions by both singer and harpsichordist (Craig). Susan Rode Morris has a gorgeous, clear voice and sings with lovely diction. She deals well with Purcells' rich melismatic writing, and her involvement with the text at even the smallest level may be seen in her knowing presentations. Her singing is delightful." American Record Guide "Susan Rode Morris
flourishes as a singing actress, sounding by turns like a young girl, a
mature woman, a comic singer, and a full fledged diva." |
