What is the best thing that I love about my work?
I love being able to become different characters in different situations. I am able to transform myself into someone else through the music and the story of opera. I love expressing these characters in different languages and exploring different time periods. I love sharing this with the audience and feeling that energy in a live performance. I also get to work with people from all different countries and cultures, and this always gives me the opportunity to learn something new to me.
-What is my idea of happiness?
My idea of happiness is to be able to do music full time and never have to work a non-music day job again. I would love to be in a position where I could perform, and it would be enough to support myself. Having this with a healthy balanced family and social life would be ideal.
-What is my greatest fear?
Becoming isolated and alone in old age.
-What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?
Being too hard on myself. I always strive for that perfect sound that does not exist, and then I start comparing myself to other people. I become envious because I want to sound like others and/or look like others. I want everything to be perfect even though I know this is impossible. I need to learn how to give myself a break and appreciate things that are positive instead of solely focusing on the negative.
-Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?
I admire current composers. They are the future of opera, and they are making history. It is exciting to witness and perform their works, which may turn into beloved classics many years from now.
-What is my greatest extravagance?
This is a very expensive industry to train for. There is a high cost for voice lessons, vocal coachings, tuition for music conservatories, application and audition fees, training programs, agency fees, recording sessions, and the list goes on and on. Sometimes it feels like putting money in a blackhole where so much is going out, and nothing is coming in.
-On what occasion would I lie?
If a current composer asked me who my favorite composer is, I would tell them they are my favorite by saying, “Well, that’s a given, but perhaps you would like to know who my second favorite composer is?”
-What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?
The constant rejection. It is so hard not to take it personally because when your craft and passion is overlooked, it feels personal. There are so many politics involved that have nothing to do with one’s talent. Usually, it is not in our control, and this can be very hard to put into perspective.
-When and where was I the happiest in my work?
2019 was my best professional year. I had received contracts from prestigious companies, and I felt like everything was starting to move in the right direction. Unfortunately, this happened right before the pandemic hit, and everything took a real setback.
-If I could, what would I change about myself?
I would like to have more confidence and not care about other people’s opinions of me. This is an industry where we are constantly being judged, so it can be hard to ignore these inner voices of self-doubt.
-What is my greatest achievement in work?
Very often when I am presented with a new performance opportunity, I feel overwhelmed in the beginning and think that I am never going to be ready in time for the performance date, but somehow, I manage to bring it all together. The process of starting with a new and unfamiliar work and transforming it into something that becomes second nature is very rewarding.
-Where would I most like to live?
I am a native New Yorker, and I love living here. It has always been my number one choice. I love to travel and visit other places, but New York will always be home to me.
-What is my most treasured possession?
My wedding ring because of what it symbolizes. It represents the love my husband and I have for each other.
-What is my most marked characteristic?
I am very devoted and loyal. I do not give up easily, and I see things through until the end. I am extremely reliable, and people can depend on me.
-What is my most inspirational location in my city?
Central Park. It is right in the middle of Manhattan, and it is a place to enjoy nature and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. I enjoy its beauty and the wildlife. It is a place where I can reset myself, and it reminds me to appreciate the little details that we often overlook.
-What is my favorite place to eat and drink in my city?
I enjoy visiting the Greenwich Village area. There are many restaurant choices with many creative dishes to try. It is also a lively atmosphere, and there is always something creative happening.
-What books influenced my life and how?
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. It really opened my eyes about the standards of beauty that are forced on us by society. It showed me different perspectives of this concept that I was not aware of before reading it.
-You only die once. What music would I listen to on my last day?
I would listen to older musical theater. This is what I listened to most often while I was growing up, so it would put me in a headspace of feeling safe and comfortable enough to let go.
-Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
Jo March from Little Women. I related to her as a child. She was someone who did not fit the mold of what everyone wanted her to be, and she did not give up. She did not take the safe route, and I found this very inspiring.
-Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?
Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Everything about it just works. It is visually atmospheric, and the score adds to the tension of the story. One never actually sees the gore during the murder scenes; one’s mind creates it. To me, this is both horrifying and brilliant.
-What role do stories play in my life and work?
Performing operas and songs is all about telling the story. It is about telling the story to the audience and going through the journey of the story as if it is the first time no matter how many times I have performed the work.
-What do the words “You are the storyteller of your own life” mean to me?
It means we have choices. Some circumstances are beyond our control, but how we handle them is our choice. Different attitudes and different perspectives produce different results.
-Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
My parents. They have been on this journey with me since the beginning. They have always supported my passion for singing and believed in me. They never tried to persuade me to focus on something else that was “safe” or “normal.” They attend almost all my performances and always encourage me.
-Which people or companies would I like to work with?
The Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, L.A. Opera, Santa Fe Opera, The Royal Opera House, Palais Garnier, Teatro alla Scala, and the Sydney Opera House to name a few.
-What project am I looking forward to work on?
I am looking forward to performing with the dell’Arte Opera Ensemble in their Chansons de Baudelaire concert in the very near future.
-Where can you see me or my work?
| PERRISUSSMAN.COMPerri Sussman Mezzo-Soprano |
-What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?
If you are passionate about what you do, it does not feel like work. This desire will always be there, and it will always be something you want to do.
-Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?
Caitlin LaBarge, Tamara Cashour, and Iris Karlin.
-How can you contact me?
https://www.facebook.com/perri.sussman/
@Perri_Sussman
The Heroine's Journey 