“To say that Ms. Cook was a revelation is an understatement, since she stamped the part as her own, and experienced a triumph for her sensational performance.”
– Opera Today
“To say that Ms. Cook was a revelation is an understatement, since she stamped the part as her own, and experienced a triumph for her sensational performance.”
– Opera Today
Catherine Cook is awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal
In November 2022, Cook was awarded the San Francisco Opera’s highest honor in acknowledgment of her 31 years of performance with the company. “The San Francisco Opera Medal [was awarded] to three singers whose versatility and dedication to the art have helped elevate hundreds of performances from good to great.”
Catherine Cook is awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal
In November 2022, Cook was awarded the San Francisco Opera’s highest honor in acknowledgment of her 31 years of performance with the company. “The San Francisco Opera Medal [was awarded] to three singers whose versatility and dedication to the art have helped elevate hundreds of performances from good to great.”
In a career spanning over two decades, American mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook has excelled in a wide range of roles with leading opera companies throughout the United States, including The Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Colorado, Opera Philadelphia, Portland Opera, Opera Parallèle, and Santa Fe Opera.
Acclaimed for her vocal prowess, Opera Today writes, “Ms. Cook is possessed of a round mezzo tone of great beauty, admirable control, and potent power in all ranges and at any volume.” Since her debut with San Francisco Opera, Cook has appeared in over 50 productions in more than 350 performances, highlights of which include the title role in Tobias Picker’s Dolores Claiborne, Jade Boucher in the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro, Emilia in Otello, Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes, and Annina in Der Rosenkavalier.
In a career spanning over two decades, American mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook has excelled in a wide range of roles with leading opera companies throughout the United States, including The Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Colorado, Opera Philadelphia, Portland Opera, Opera Parallèle, and Santa Fe Opera.
Acclaimed for her vocal prowess, Opera Today writes, “Ms. Cook is possessed of a round mezzo tone of great beauty, admirable control, and potent power in all ranges and at any volume.” Since her debut with San Francisco Opera, Cook has appeared in over 50 productions in more than 350 performances, highlights of which include the title role in Tobias Picker’s Dolores Claiborne, Jade Boucher in the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro, Emilia in Otello, Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes, and Annina in Der Rosenkavalier.
“But the heroic star of the proceedings… was the magnificent mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook as Mrs. Peachum. Her comic pacing was impeccable… she delivered every line and every take with crisp exactitude. There’s nothing she can’t transform into pure delight.”
– San Francisco Chronicle
With a teaching career of over 20 years, Catherine Cook is a passionate educator and maintains a private studio and one at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she has been on the Voice Faculty for 16 years. She also serves as the Chair of the Voice Department, and currently holds the Frederica von Stade Distinguished Chair in Voice.
With a teaching career of over 20 years, Catherine Cook is a passionate educator and maintains a private studio and one at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she has been on the Voice Faculty for 16 years. She also serves as the Chair of the Voice Department, and currently holds the Frederica von Stade Distinguished Chair in Voice.
“Best of all, though, is Catherine Cook’s hilarious Marcellina… Her every movement, even a subtle nod of the head, is an occasion for laughter.”
– Theaterstorm
“Best of all, though, is Catherine Cook’s hilarious Marcellina… Her every movement, even a subtle nod of the head, is an occasion for laughter.”
– Theaterstorm
Photo credits: Cory Weaver, Kersh Branz, San Francisco Conservatory of Music