Susan Costello

Susan Costello recently joined us at San Francisco Opera to share her story with us. We are delighted to welcome Susan to the Bel Canto Legacy Society and hope you enjoy this inspiring conversation as much as we have.

Why is opera important to you?
There is nothing that moves my heart like opera. There are times when the intensity and passion of the music is so grand that I feel like I forget to breathe. Watching the SF Opera’s production of Luisa Miller, Andrea Chenier, Lucia di Lammermoor and Turandot – the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up and every pore in my body was consumed by the music. Since the age of 5 nothing has moved my needle to that degree. I was so young when I became an ardent fan of opera….it was the time of the Beatles, Tom Paxton, Jimi Hendrix and Phil Ochs. Of course my friends all wanted to know why I was listening to opera when they were all listening to rock ‘n roll. They were often intimidated by the librettos and the foreign languages. I used to say to my friends, “Don’t pay attention to the story or the language…first fall in love with the music. If the music moves you, then the libretto will only enhance your enjoyment. But the sound of the human voice singing this powerful music has to resonate with you first.”

What are your first opera memories?
Falling in love with Tristan und Isolde when I first heard it on a Met broadcast when I was a wee child. And then seeing Madame Butterfly at the original Met, and Aida at the Baths of Caracalla in Italy. Having trained to be an opera singer, some of my most dynamic memories are from singing with my 2nd vocal teacher, Herb Doussant, who himself had sung at the Met. His voice was dark and rich….mine is a round mezzo…. so the texture of our voices melted together.
When I was 12 I attended a fashion function in a private room at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York on the night that they were performing Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci. By accident I was wandering around the halls after the function and happened to open a door that took me backstage at the opera. In those days security wasn’t rigorous like it is today. I stood backstage for the entire performance, just quietly stationed in the wings and no one bothered me….no one asked why I was there. It was a riveting experience I will always remember.

Could you tell us about your best memories or experiences at San Francisco Opera?
Every time I go to SF Opera I’m in awe. I leave richer than when I arrived. Luisa Miller is one of my very favorite operas and has been since I was 9. The production in San Francisco was lush and so beautifully sung, so I went to see it 7 times….and if it appeared on the roster next year I’d go another 7 times. Aida was a magical production too. The use of gold and sparkle dropping from the ceiling, and the procession and glamour of it was glorious.
As you know I attend opera all over the world and have seen top-flight performances in far-flung places. The productions in San Francisco are of the highest caliber. They are creative, the voices are magnificent, the sets are stunning….but there is something more. I’ve always felt that opera in San Francisco is approachable. As glamorous as the productions are I’ve always felt that the attitude amongst the performers, the staff, even the reservations team…is of gratitude. This makes for a particularly wonderful experience.

Is there an aspect of opera that most resonates with you?
The romance of the voices when singing full throttle, the unrequited love and tragedy that produces such breathtaking music….for me it’s less about the visual…it’s the sound of the human voice at its most passionate and expressive capacity.

Why did you make a legacy gift to San Francisco Opera?
It is vital that this art form, which has endured for centuries, continues so others can experience what today’s devotees embrace. Opera transports us. How many things in life give us flight to a place of perfect music and lush visuals, where we temporarily suspend our day to day existence?

Why is it important for patrons to consider making a legacy gift to the Opera, if they can?
To leave a piece of ourselves for future generations. What better way to pass on our passion for Opera and make sure it is sustained for those that come after us? To me it’s a responsibility to fund the things that have given me the greatest joy and the things that have great need. Opera has always been terrifically costly to produce, and in our country there isn’t support for the arts on a federal level. So all of us who value the arts should give back for all of the richness we’ve received, in my opinion.