Ruth Ann Swenson, soprano

Ruth Ann Swenson is recognized as one of the leading operatic artists of our day and has won public and critical accolades in major theatres around the world.

Ms. Swenson was born in New York and attended the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia before being invited to join San Francisco Opera’s Merola program and named an Adler Fellow.
She made her debut with the company and went on to perform almost every season in a variety of roles including Juliette in “Romeo and Juliette”, Gilda in “Rigoletto”, Countess Almaviva, Cleopatra, the title characters in Manon, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Traviata, The Ballad of Baby Doe and Semele. She received the San Francisco Opera medal in recognition of the 25th anniversary of her debut.

Although nurtured in San Francisco, she made her European debut at the Grand Teatre in Geneva and was quickly invited to appear in all the important houses including Opera National de Paris, Vienna Staatsoper, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Berlin Staatsoper, Teatro San Carlos Naples, as well as the festivals in Salzburg, Pesaro and Orange.

Her long association with the Metropolitan Opera began with her debut with James Levine and continued for 20 years with over 200 leading role performances including Susanna,Zerlina, Gilda, Lucia, Zerbinetta, all four heroines in the Tales of Hoffman, Adina, Manon, Mimi, Rosina, Micaela, Cleopatra and Marguerite.

In concert she has appeared with the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra among others with conductors Zubin Mehta, Christoph von Dohnanyi and Michael Tilson Thomas.

Ms. Swenson has recorded extensively appearing in full opera recordings and DVDs as well as several solo discs collaborating with Sir Charles Mackerass, Julius Rudel, pianist Warren Jones, Marilyn Horne, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Linda Ronstadt.