Xóchitl Hernández interviews Suzzana Guzmán, opera star and TV host.

BY XÓCHITL HERNÁNDEZ
EL NUEVO SOL

Episode 4 of season 1. I am so excited for this episode, on a beautiful Friday morning with hazy clouds and chirping birds, I joined Mexican American performing artist, opera singer, and female trailblazer Suzanna in her home to talk about her story as a Chicana leader with a notable career. Suzanna Guzmán, mezzo-soprano & tv host, is a native of East Los Angeles and an original Associate Artists of L.A. Opera performing principal roles in 39 L.A. Opera productions in over 400 performances.  She’s appeared as a soloist alongside international opera stars at opera houses around the world including the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Opera de Genève, as well as Spoleto Festival and Singapore Festival just to name a few. Known for her portrayal of the title role in Bizet’s Carmen, where TIME Magazine called her a Fire-breathing actress, devastatingly sexy.”) she also received a Grammy nod for her collaboration with Southwest Chamber Music and Emmy nod for hosting the 59^th L.A. County Holiday Celebration.

Guzmán is also a champion of arts education and goes around the country performing her one-woman show Don’t Be Afraid: It’s Just Opera at many public and inner-city schools. Her awards include an honorary Doctor of Music from Occidental College, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nederlanders Association, Mentor of the Year Award from Hispanic Scholarship Foundation and the 2017 Presidents Award from the Neighborhood Music School. Upcoming engagements include…. the SoCal premiere of the opera, Bless me, Ultima in the title role, Eric Whitacre’s’ Gift of the Magi and as Doña Rosa in Daniél Catán’s Il Postino with Santa Barbara Opera. Don’t miss her as the Virgin in her 17^th year of Dios Inantzin, La Virgen de Tepeyac with Latino Theatre Company. In this episode Part 1 of a 2 part interview, Suzanna speaks on her background, Latinidad, and how she found her voice.