Suzy Frelinghuysen
Encyclopedia
Suzy Frelinghuysen was an American abstract painter and erstwhile soprano
.
Born in New Jersey
, she was descended from various politicians, including her grandfather, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen
(Secretary of State under Chester A. Arthur
), and Theodore Frelinghuysen
(Senator from New Jersey). She was educated at Miss Fine's in Princeton, and studied art and music privately.
In 1935, she married the artist George L.K. Morris, who encouraged her painting, and in 1938 she was the first woman to have a painting placed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Living Art. She and Morris were founding members of the American Abstract Artists
. She took part, in Paris, at the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles
, and exhibited also in Rome and Amsterdam.
As Suzy Morris, the dramatic soprano
appeared with the New York City Opera
from 1947 to 1950, in Ariadne auf Naxos (in the title role, opposite Virginia MacWatters
as Zerbinetta), Cavalleria rusticana (as Santuzza, conducted by Julius Rudel
), Tosca (as Floria Tosca), Aïda (as Amneris, with Camilla Williams
, Ramón Vinay
, and Lawrence Winters
, directed by Theodore Komisarjevsky
), and Les contes d'Hoffmann (as Giulietta).
Following that last appearance with the City Opera, she debuted in 1950 with the New Orleans Opera
Association, as Amelia in Un ballo in maschera. That performance, which was broadcast, also featured Jussi Björling
, Marko Rothmüller, Martha Larrimore, the young Norman Treigle
(as Samuele), as well as Audrey Schuh
(as Oscar, her first major role). In 1998, VAI released this performance on Compact Discs.
After a 1951 bout of bronchitis
, the soprano retired from the stage, and once more became a full-time painter.
Suzy Frelinghuysen died in Lenox, Massachusetts
. Her work can be viewed in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, the Philadelphia Museum of Art
, and the Carnegie Art Institute.
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
.
Born in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, she was descended from various politicians, including her grandfather, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen
Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen was a member of the United States Senate representing New Jersey and a United States Secretary of State.-Early life and education:...
(Secretary of State under Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
), and Theodore Frelinghuysen
Theodore Frelinghuysen
Theodore Frelinghuysen was an American politician, serving as New Jersey Attorney General, United States Senator, and Mayor of Newark, New Jersey before running as a candidate for Vice President with Henry Clay on the Whig ticket in the election of 1844...
(Senator from New Jersey). She was educated at Miss Fine's in Princeton, and studied art and music privately.
In 1935, she married the artist George L.K. Morris, who encouraged her painting, and in 1938 she was the first woman to have a painting placed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Living Art. She and Morris were founding members of the American Abstract Artists
American Abstract Artists
American Abstract Artists was formed in 1936 in New York City, to promote and foster public understanding of abstract art. American Abstract Artists exhibitions, publications, and lectures helped to establish the organization as a major forum for the exchange and discussion of ideas, and for...
. She took part, in Paris, at the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles
Salon des Réalités Nouvelles
The Salon des Réalités Nouvelles is an association of artists and an art exhibition in Paris, focusing on abstract art.A first exhibition with the name was held in 1939 in Galerie Charpentier, organised by Robert Delaunay, Sonia Delaunay, Nelly van Doesburg and Fredo Sidès.In 1946 the Salon was...
, and exhibited also in Rome and Amsterdam.
As Suzy Morris, the dramatic soprano
Dramatic soprano
A dramatic soprano is an operatic soprano with a powerful, rich, emotive voice that can sing over, or cut through, a full orchestra. Thicker vocal folds in dramatic voices usually mean less agility than lighter voices but a sustained, fuller sound. Usually this voice has a lower tessitura than...
appeared with the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
from 1947 to 1950, in Ariadne auf Naxos (in the title role, opposite Virginia MacWatters
Virginia MacWatters
Virginia MacWatters was an acclaimed American coloratura soprano.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, MacWatters studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, and sang 611 Broadway performances of Adele in Rosalinda , conducted by Erich Korngold, from 1942 to 1944...
as Zerbinetta), Cavalleria rusticana (as Santuzza, conducted by Julius Rudel
Julius Rudel
Julius Rudel is an American opera and orchestra conductor who emigrated to the United States from Austria at the age of 17 and studied conducting at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. He then forged a 35-year career with the New York City Opera, from 1944 to 1979, and was the Music...
), Tosca (as Floria Tosca), Aïda (as Amneris, with Camilla Williams
Camilla Williams
Camilla Ella Williams is an American operatic soprano and the first African American to receive a contract with a major American opera company.-Biography:...
, Ramón Vinay
Ramón Vinay
Ramón Vinay was a famous Chilean operatic tenor with a powerful, dramatic voice. He is probably best remembered for his appearances in the title role of Giuseppe Verdi's tragic opera Otello....
, and Lawrence Winters
Lawrence Winters
Lawrence Winters , bass-baritone, was an African American opera singer who had an active international career from the mid 1940s through the mid 1960s. He was part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve wide success and is viewed as part of an instrumental group of performers who...
, directed by Theodore Komisarjevsky
Theodore Komisarjevsky
Fyodor Fyodorovich Komissarzhevsky or Theodore Komisarjevsky, as he is better known in the West, was a Russian theatrical director and designer. He began his career in Moscow, but had his greatest influence in London...
), and Les contes d'Hoffmann (as Giulietta).
Following that last appearance with the City Opera, she debuted in 1950 with the New Orleans Opera
New Orleans Opera
Opera has long been part of the musical culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. Operas have regularly been performed in the city since the 1790s, and for the majority of the city's history since the early 19th century, New Orleans has had a resident company regularly performing opera in addition to...
Association, as Amelia in Un ballo in maschera. That performance, which was broadcast, also featured Jussi Björling
Jussi Björling
Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling was a Swedish tenor. One of the leading operatic singers of the 20th Century, Björling appeared frequently at the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as well as at other major European opera...
, Marko Rothmüller, Martha Larrimore, the young Norman Treigle
Norman Treigle
Norman Treigle was an American operatic bass-baritone, who was acclaimed for his great abilities as a singing-actor, and specialized in roles that evoked villainy and terror....
(as Samuele), as well as Audrey Schuh
Audrey Schuh
Audrey Schuh was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on , and studied both music and medical technology at Loyola University of the South, where she studied with Dorothy Hulse, who was also the pedagogue of Harry Theyard and Charles Anthony...
(as Oscar, her first major role). In 1998, VAI released this performance on Compact Discs.
After a 1951 bout of bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
, the soprano retired from the stage, and once more became a full-time painter.
Suzy Frelinghuysen died in Lenox, Massachusetts
Lenox, Massachusetts
Lenox is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Set in Western Massachusetts, it is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,077 at the 2000 census. Where the town has a border with Stockbridge is the site of Tanglewood, summer...
. Her work can be viewed in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the United States. It is located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Museum was established in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year...
, and the Carnegie Art Institute.