Graham, Susan, 1960–, American mezzo-soprano, b. Roswell, N. Mex. Known for her vibrant, expressive voice and her superb acting ability, she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1988, when she also made her debut at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in Samuel Barber's Vanessa. She began singing at the Met in 1991; three years later she stepped into the role of Octavian in Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, which—along with Cherubino in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro—became one of her signature roles. Graham is noted for her interpretations of French music and of modern American song (e.g., Charles Ives and Ned Rorem) and opera.
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