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Cheryl Studer in Die Fledermaus
Cheryl Studer as Rosalinde in the opera Die Fledermaus (The Bat), performed at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, 1997.

Cheryl Studer (born October 24, 1955) is a famous American dramatic soprano singer. A soprano is a female singer with a high voice. She has performed in many of the world's best opera houses. Studer has sung over eighty different roles in operas. These roles range from powerful dramatic parts to lighter, more flexible parts. Later in her career, she also sang roles usually for mezzo-sopranos, which are lower female voices. She is especially known for her amazing performances of music by Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner.

BSO debut
Cheryl Studer's first performance with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on January 16, 1979.
1973 concert program
An early concert program from Aalborg, Denmark, 1973, featuring Cheryl Studer.

Early Life and Training

Cheryl Studer was born in Midland, Michigan. She was one of three children born to Carl W. and Elizabeth Studer.

As a child, she learned to play the piano and viola. She started taking singing lessons at age 12. Her first voice teacher was Gwendolyn Pike, a local opera singer.

She went to Herbert Henry Dow High School. Later, she moved to the Interlochen Arts Academy for her last two years of high school, graduating in 1974. After high school, Studer studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She then moved with her family to Tennessee. She continued her studies at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance in 1979. During this time, Studer won several important awards. These included the High Fidelity/Musical America Award in 1977. She also won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1978.

In the summer of 1979, Studer went to a special course in Austria. It was about German Lied (songs). Here, she learned from famous singers like Irmgard Seefried and Hans Hotter. Hotter encouraged her to stay in Europe and study with him in Vienna. Studer studied with Hotter for one year. Then, she began her professional singing career. In 1979, she won an award for her excellent Lied performances.

Singing Career

1980s: Starting Out

In 1981, Studer joined the Bavarian State Opera in Germany. She stayed there for two years. She mostly sang smaller roles at first. Her main roles included the title part in Euryanthe and Mařenka in The Bartered Bride. While at the Bavarian State Opera, she was encouraged to explore the powerful music of Richard Wagner. Until then, she had mainly focused on bel canto (beautiful singing) style. Her first professional opera performance was as Helmwige in Wagner's Die Walküre.

After two seasons, she moved to the Staatstheater Darmstadt for two years. In 1983, Studer took on her first big role. She sang Violetta in Verdi's La traviata. The next summer, she sang Irene in Wagner's Rienzi and Drola in Wagner's Die Feen. In 1984, Studer joined the Deutsche Oper Berlin. She stayed there for two full seasons. That same year, she made her first US opera appearance. She sang Micaëla in Carmen with the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

In 1985, Studer performed as Elisabeth in Wagner's Tannhäuser. This performance at the Bayreuth Festival received great reviews. This quickly led to more important leading roles for her.

In 1986, Studer made her debut at the Liceu as Freia in Wagner's Das Rheingold. She also debuted at the Opéra de Paris as Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. That year, she sang Eva in Wagner's Die Meistersinger with the San Francisco Opera. In 1987, Studer performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as Elisabeth in Tannhäuser. She also debuted at La Scala as Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni. In 1988, Studer made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Micaëla in Carmen. She returned to La Scala to sing Mathilde in Rossini's William Tell. She also sang Agathe in Der Freischütz in Paris.

In 1989, she debuted at the Vienna State Opera and Salzburg Festival. She sang Chrysothemis in Richard Strauss' Elektra at both. That same year, Studer received a major music award, the Grand Prix du Disque – Prix Maria Callas. She also returned to La Scala to sing La Duchesse Hélène in Verdi's I vespri siciliani. She debuted with the Opera Company of Philadelphia as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

1990s: Continued Success

In 1990, Studer returned to the Metropolitan Opera to sing Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni. She also sang Elsa in Wagner's Lohengrin at the Vienna State Opera. In 1991, Studer performed two more roles at the Met: Elettra in Mozart's Idomeneo and Violetta in Verdi's La traviata. She sang Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto at a special gala. She performed with famous tenors like Luciano Pavarotti. In 1990, she also sang Odabella in Verdi's Attila at La Scala. She sang Countess Almaviva in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro in Vienna.

In 1995, she sang Princess von Werdenberg in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier for the first time. This was at the Salzburg Festival. She also performed with her hometown orchestra in Midland, Michigan. In 1996, Studer sang the same role in Vienna. That year, she returned to the Royal Opera to sing the title role of Richard Strauss' Arabella. She also sang Aïda at the Bavarian State Opera. In 1997, she sang Leonore in Beethoven's Fidelio at the Salzburg Festival.

In 1998, she sang Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and Sieglinde in Die Walküre at the Bavarian State Opera. She also sang Primadonna/Ariadne in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos. In 1998, she sang Senta in Der fliegende Holländer at the Bayreuth Festival. She sang this role again in 1999.

In July 1998, she gave a German song recital (Liederabend) in Bayreuth. This celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Margravial Opera House. Towards the end of the 1990s, Studer faced some vocal challenges. Her contracts were briefly canceled in 1998. However, after a short break, her performances showed she was back in top form. The Bavarian State Opera renewed her contract.

2000s: New Roles and Concerts

In 2000, Studer returned to the Metropolitan Opera. She sang Princess von Werdenberg (the Marschallin) in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier. That year, she sang the title role of Richard Strauss' Arabella at the Zürich Opera. She also stepped in last minute as Sieglinde in Die Walküre at the Bayreuth Festival.

In 2000, she also sang Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs with the Berlin Philharmonic. She also sang Brünnhilde in Walküre in concert in Budapest. In February 2001, Studer sang the Kaiserin (Empress) in Richard Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten in Dresden. She sang this role again in Vienna in 2002. Around this time, Studer sang both the Kaiserin and the Marschallin in Dresden. In June 2001, Studer sang Elisabeth in Wagner's Tannhäuser in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

You can hear Studer singing the "Ave Maria" from Verdi's Otello. It is part of the soundtrack for the 2001 Hollywood film, O.

In February 2002, she made a rare US appearance. She sang Isolde's "Liebestod" with the Indianapolis Symphony.

In January 2003, Studer sang the soprano part in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in Berlin. This was for UNESCO's special recognition of the symphony's manuscript.

Also in 2003, she sang her final Sentas in Der fliegende Holländer in Berlin. She also gave a German song recital in Athens, Greece. It honored Maria Callas and featured songs by Verdi, Wagner, and others.

In March 2004, Studer sang her first complete Isolde in concert in Münster, Germany. Before this, she had sung parts of Tristan und Isolde in Gießen, Germany, in 1999.

In October 2005, Studer sang Sieglinde in Richard Wagner's first-ever Ring Cycle in China. This was in Beijing. In November 2005, there were reports of a mild health issue. This caused her to cancel some concerts in Spain, but it was never officially confirmed.

In June 2007, Studer gave special teaching classes (Masterclasses) and a recital in St. Petersburg, Russia. She sang only Richard Strauss songs. In August 2007, she gave another Strauss song recital in Bayreuth. In February 2008, Studer gave a song recital in Spain. She sang songs by Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, and Richard Strauss. Later that year, in October 2008, Studer gave another recital at Drake University. She sang songs by Rossini, Ravel, Brahms, and Richard Strauss.

In November 2008, she gave another recital in Germany. She sang songs by Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, and Richard Strauss. In August 2009, Studer sang Richard Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder in Berlin.

2010–Present: Directing and New Directions

On July 9, 2010, Studer made her debut as a director. She directed a new production of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia in Würzburg, Germany.

In May 2011, she won an international prize. Later that year, in November 2011, she performed in concerts in Nuremberg and Antwerp, Belgium. These were all-Wagner concerts.

Studer has started singing in a lower voice range. In December 2011, she appeared as Gertrud in Hänsel und Gretel in Hamburg. She sang this role again in 2013. In 2012, she received an Ovation Award from the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

In 2014, she played Adelaide in Richard Strauss' Arabella in Hamburg. Also in 2014, she led the 38th International Maria Callas Grand Prix for Opera in Athens, Greece.

In October 2016, Studer sang the Overseer/Confidant in Richard Strauss' Elektra in Berlin. She sang these roles again in June 2022 and October 2023. In December 2016, she sang Nettie Fowler in the musical Carousel in Switzerland. In September 2018, Studer sang the contralto role of Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria rusticana in Austria. These performances were recorded.

In November 2021, Studer sang Tertullia in a new production of Die Verurteilung des Lukullus in Stuttgart.

Teaching and Workshops

For eighteen years, from 2003 to 2021, Studer taught at the University of Music in Würzburg. She is also an honorary professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Studer leads a series of master classes and opera workshops every year. These are part of her own North Aegean Music Festival on the island of Lesbos, Greece. She also teaches Master Classes around the world, including in the USA, Greece, South Korea, China, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

Personal Life

Cheryl Studer is married to Greek tenor Michalis Doukakis. She has lived in Germany for most of her life. From previous marriages, Studer has two daughters. Their names are Elsa and Senta, named after characters from Richard Wagner operas.

Opera Roles and Songs

Recordings

Full Opera Recordings

  • Aida in Verdi's Aida, recorded 1994, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Edward Downes, Pioneer
  • Countess in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, recorded 1991, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Sony
  • Countess in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, recorded 1994, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Chrysothemis in Richard Strauss' Elektra, recorded 1989, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Pioneer
  • Chrysothemis in Strauss' Elektra, recorded 1990, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch, EMI
  • Desdemona in Verdi's Otello, recorded 1993, Opéra Bastille, Myung-whun Chung, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni, recorded 1990, Wiener Philharmoniker, Riccardo Muti, EMI
  • Drolla in Wagner's Die Feen, recorded 1983, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Orfeo
  • Elena in Verdi's I Vespri Siciliani, recorded 1989–1990, Teatro alla Scala, Riccardo Muti, Fonit Cetra
  • Elisabeth in Wagner's Tannhäuser, recorded 1988, Philharmonia Orchestra, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Elisabeth in Wagner's Tannhäuser, recorded 1989, Bayreuth Festival, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Philips
  • Elsa in Wagner's Lohengrin, recorded 1990, Bayreuth Festival, Peter Schneider, Philips
  • Elsa in Wagner's Lohengrin, recorded 1990, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Eva in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, recorded 1993, Bavarian State Opera, Wolfgang Sawallisch, EMI
  • Florinda in Schubert's Fierrabras, recorded 1988, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto act 3, recorded 1991, Metropolitan Opera, James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto, recorded 1993, Metropolitan Opera, James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Giulietta in Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann, recorded 1987-1989, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Jeffrey Tate, Philips
  • Gutrune in Wagner's Götterdämmerung, recorded 1989, Metropolitan Opera, James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Hanna Glawari in Lehár's Die Lustige Witwe, recorded 1994, Wiener Philharmoniker, John Eliot Gardiner, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Irene in Wagner's Rienzi, recorded 1983, Bavarian State Opera, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Orfeo
  • Jessonda in Spohr's Jessonda, recorded 1984, Austrian Radio Orchestra, Gerd Albrecht, Voce
  • Kaiserin (Empress) in Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten, recorded 1987, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch, EMI
  • Kaiserin (Empress) in Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten, recorded 1992, Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti, Salzburg Festival, DECCA/London
  • Konstanze in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail, recorded 1991, Wiener Symphoniker, Bruno Weil, Sony
  • Lucia in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, recorded 1990, London Symphony Orchestra, Ion Marin, Deutsche Grammmophon
  • Madama Cortese in Rossini's Il viaggio a Reims, recorded 1992, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Sony
  • Mamma Lucia in Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana, recorded 2018/2019, Oper Graz/Graz Philharmonic, Oksana Lyniv, Oehms Classics
  • Marguerite in Gounod's Faust, recorded 1991, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson, EMI
  • Matilde in Rossini's Guglielmo Tell, recorded 1988, Teatro alla Scala, Riccardo Muti, EMI
  • Odabella in Verdi's Attila, recorded 1989, Teatro alla Scala, Riccardo Muti, EMI
  • Odabella in Verdi's Attila, recorded 1990, Teatro alla Scala, Riccardo Muti, Home Vision
  • Ortlinde in Wagner's Die Walküre, recorded 1981, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Marek Janowski, Eurodisc
  • Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, recorded 1989, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, Philips
  • Salomé in Massenet's Hérodiade, recorded 1994, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson, EMI
  • Salome in Strauss' Salome, recorded 1990, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Semiramide in Rossini's Semiramide, recorded 1992, London Symphony Orchestra, Ion Marin, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Senta in Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer, recorded 1991, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Sieglinde in Wagner's Die Walküre, recorded 1988, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, EMI
  • Susannah in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, recorded 1994, Opéra de Lyon, Kent Nagano, Virgin
  • Violetta in Verdi's La traviata, recorded 1991, Metropolitan Opera, James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Zemlinsky's Der Zwerg, recorded 1983, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gerd Albrecht, Koch-Schwann

Concert Recordings

  • Samuel Barber Complete Songs, recorded 1992, John Browning, Thomas Hampson, Emerson String Quartet, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Beethoven's Missa solemnis, recorded 1991, Wiener Philharmoniker, Salzburg Festival, James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Beethoven in Berlin ("Ah! perfido"/Choral Fantasy/Egmont), recorded 1991, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, recorded 1989, Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti, EMI
  • Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem, recorded 1992, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Bruckner's Mass in F minor / Mozart's Vespers, recorded 1977, MIT Choral Society, John Oliver, private issue LP
  • Donizetti's Messa da Requiem, recorded 1984, Bamberger Symphoniker, Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez, Orfeo
  • Mahler's Das klagende Lied, recorded 1990, Philharmonia Orchestra, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Mahler's Symphony No. 2, recorded 1992, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Mahler's Symphony No. 8, recorded 1990, Philharmonia Orchestra, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Mahler's Symphony No. 8, recorded 1994, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Schubert Lieder, recorded 1990, Irwin Gage, Deutsche Grammophon
  • von Schweinitz's Messe, Op. 21, recorded 1984, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gerd Albrecht, Wergo
  • Strauss Choral Works, recorded 1984, RIAS Kammerchor, Uwe Gronostay, Marcus Creed, Deutsche Schallplatten
  • Strauss' Vier Letzte Lieder/Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder and Isolde's "Liebestod", recorded 1993, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Verdi's Messa da Requiem, recorded 1987, Teatro alla Scala, Riccardo Muti, EMI
  • Verdi's Messa da Requiem, recorded 1991, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Wagner, Isolde's "Liebestod", recorded 1988, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate, EMI
  • Wagner Gala (Tannhäuser/Lohengrin/Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg/Die Walküre), recorded 1993, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Covent Garden Gala (Otello/La traviata/Die Fledermaus), recorded 1988, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, John Barker, EMI
  • First Europakonzert in Prague (Mozart: Non mi dir/Ch'io mi scordi di te? – Non temer, amato bene), recorded 1991, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Sony
  • The Metropolitan Opera Gala 1991, recorded 1991, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon DVD
  • Salzburg Recital (Strauss/Schubert/Debussy), recorded 1992, Irwin Gage, Deutsche Grammophon
  • Johan Botha Wiener Staatsoper Live: Beethoven | Wagner | Strauss (Atmest du nicht, from act 3 of Lohengrin), recorded 1997, Wiener Staatsoper, Simone Young, Orfeo International

Solo Recordings

See also

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