Your gateway to opera and classical music | FanFaire – the webzine that celebrates MUSIC!

WELCOME!

WELCOME TO THE FANFAIRE BLOG!

mentzer-mentzer2000ON FanFaire launched its BLOG section in 2012 with contributions from the great mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer who made her Huffington Post blogs available to FanFaire viewers.

Susanne was among FanFaire’s first featured artists and for several years, FanFaire’s Susanne Mentzer pages comprised her semi-official website. An internationally acclaimed opera singer, a master teacher, and an ardent advocate of worthy causes, she is indeed one of America’s national treasures. Learn more about her by visiting her website and FanFaire’s redesigned Susanne Mentzer pages, but if you really want to get to know her even better READ HER WELL-WRITTEN BLOGS – they’re candid, insightful, funny, touching and more… because they come from the heart.
In-house and more guest blogs will be forthcoming.

If you wish to become a FanFaire blogger, drop us a note. The more, the merrier!

In the meantime… soak up Susanne’s ruminations on a wide range of topics. You’ll find them both interesting and educational.

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What Do the NFL and Classical Music Have in Common?

by Susanne Mentzer

I have kept pretty quiet about the most recent draining vortex of long-established classical music organizations. I am bewildered as to how two formerly strong companies could end up in this sad situation. Last week the New York City Opera declared bankruptcy and the Minnesota Orchestra failed to come to an agreement over a contract… Continue Reading

Filed Under: artists, classical music, opera, opera singer, Uncategorized

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Obama Care and Me

by Susanne Mentzer

I am one of the fortunate in our country — not of the one percent — but with my career as a an opera singer/teacher that has continued for nearly 32 years and, God willing, will continue a few more. I am also a mother, I do what I love and am self-employed. My entire… Continue Reading

Filed Under: artists, classical music, health care, opera, opera singer

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Youth That Is Not Wasted on the Young

by Susanne Mentzer

Way back in 1957 (the year I was born) a man named John Crosby had a vision that came to fruition — the Santa Fe Opera — giving American singers an opportunity to learn and perform new roles in a setting that allowed ample time to rehearse and prepare each production. At the same time,… Continue Reading

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20/20

by Susanne Mentzer

You know how you might see yourself in a photo and think, “Gee I look horrible” and put it away only to find it years later and think, “Wow! I looked pretty good back then?” Thursday evening I was driving the two-hour route back home from a day of teaching in San Francisco when I… Continue Reading

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Opera for the New World

by Susanne Mentzer

Opera is in effect sung theater. Opera, like theater, can be thought-provoking, historical, educational and a reflection of our society. Historically is has been used as a commentary on contemporary life. I would encourage many opera novices to look into the historical context of some of the works in the operatic cannon of over 200… Continue Reading

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Risë Stevens: A Brief Tribute

by Susanne Mentzer

The first eleven years of my life were spent in suburban Philadelphia in Springfield, Delaware County, to be exact. We were one of the working class families living in the numerous identical, small, brick houses of the cul-de-sac. In our living room we had a rather wide, two door, dark wood console that housed a… Continue Reading

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A REFLECTION ON MY LIFE AS A BOY

by Susanne Mentzer

When I was age 13 and 14, I made quilts. I was taught by a woman from the mountains of Maryland at the Catoctin Folk Crafts Center in the national park where we lived and for which my father worked. (I was also taught to spin wool into yarn and make candles. More importantly I… Continue Reading

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THE MOZART EFFECT

by Susanne Mentzer

I have been at a loss lately as to what I might write about. Writing is not a daily activity for me since I wear a lot of hats, so I normally wait for that Eureka moment. Last night, on stage at the Pacific Symphony performance of the Mozart Requiem in Costa Mesa, I had… Continue Reading

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The “Light Bulb” Moment

by Susanne Mentzer

Bear with me. I am a little jetlagged. I just returned to my hotel after visiting the Prado museum in Madrid. I am here this week to sing the role of Mary in the quasi-oratorio L’enfance du Christ (infancy of Christ) by Hector Berlioz. In years past I would make, at the very least, ten… Continue Reading

Filed Under: artists, classical music, opera, opera singer