Susan Gundunas -- Soprano

REVIEWS

Sondheim on Sondheim:

"Equally impressive but for different reasons are the voice and delivery techniques employed by Susan Gundunas in 'Take Me to the World' (Evening Primrose) and 'I Read/Forca's Entrance' (Passion). Ms. Gundunas brings to her songs much genuine, deep-felt emotion in her voice and in her all-encompassing expressiveness. After an earlier collection of both the famous (Judy Collins, Ella, Barbra, Frank, etc.) and YouTube fifteen-minute-famers singing 'Send in the Clowns, 'Ms. Gundunas brought tears to my eyes in singing her own version of this much-recorded standard, with a stirring chorus of cast voices joining her to echo the song's refrain."

Eddie Reynolds, Talkin’ Broadway

READ FULL REVIEW

Jan 2018

The People in the Picture:

"Susan Gundunas is worth the price of the ticket as she plays both the bent-over, foot-shuffling Bubbie in modern-day New York and the wise-cracking Yiddish stage-and-film star Raisel of 1935 Warsaw."

Eddie Reynolds, Talkin’ Broadway

READ FULL REVIEW

April 2018

"This all leads to Susan Gundunas, who as Raisel is just brilliant. Gundunas was with Opera San Jose in the '90s, and I distinctly remember a heartbreaking performance of Tosca's 'Vissi d'arte' that left me thinking, This woman can act! Perhaps the most amazing moments in the show are when she ages herself, from the '40s to the '70s, merely by changing the set of her face, the stiffness of her movements, and adding a Polish accent. It's downright Houdinian. She also demonstrates a unique ability to ditch the opera voice completely when it comes to the vaudeville numbers. Her performance of the Dybbuk number, in which she is possessed by a Jewish demon, is a glorious bit of physical/vocal humor. Later, she interrupts Butler's 'Ich, Uch, Feh,' a tribute to guttural communication, with screams of anguish, creating a moment that epitomizes the stark contrast of humor and horror everpresent in the show. "

Michael J. Vaughn, Operaville

READ FULL REVIEW

April 2018

A Spoonful of Sherman:

"Rounding out the cast of five is Susan Gundunas, who like the other four has starred in past productions of 3Below's Guggenheim Entertainment. Ms. Gundunas' 'The Whistle Tune' is one of her best numbers of the evening, offering her emotionally powerful voice in the soft, low registers where it particularly shines."

Eddie Reynolds, Talkin’ Broadway

READ FULL REVIEW

April 2019

"Sadly, Susan Gundunas had to pull things back due to a virus, but even this was kind of entertaining, watching her deploy her usual panache and a Rex Harrison speak-sing to get through the evening. "

Michael J. Vaughn, Operaville

READ FULL REVIEW

May 2019

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"In celebration of Shakspeare's 445th birthday, soprano Susan Gundunas takes the stage with a fun, theatrical, and at times awe-inspiring performance and recording of scenes, sonnets and songs from Shakespeare in a 'mashup,' of sorts with six centuries- worth of composers inspired by the Bard."

READ FULL REVIEW

May 2009

"The overt drama of her delivery could also work to her advantage, when certain lines of text, such as the concluding tutti passage at 'Tall as the cedar he appears and as erect his form he bears' in her final air, became all the more spine-tingling through heightened vocal declamation."
SF Classical Voice

2007

"Gifted soprano Susan Gundunas is the star of the show as Marie. She is equally adept at lyric, dramatic and the demanding coloratura ... Her dramatic skills are also stunning as she convincingly moves from a rough tough military kid to a beleaguered society girl and, finally, to a mature young lady who knows and expresses her heart's desire."

July, 2004

"Susan Gundunas' soprano- sometimes lilting, sometimes piercing as she screamed in terror- was never more beautiful than in her aria 'Ellen's Serenade.' "-2004

"San Francisco soprano Susan Gundunas [sings] Norina...with twirling wit about her 'magical craft.' "-2003

"We were smitten by the heroine, Ellen Hutter. In this role, San Francisco soprano Susan Gundunas shows both heart and soul, displaying a gorgeous range, perfect pitch and expressive stage presence."
Billings Gazette

October 2004

" 'The Merry Widow'' 'magic moment materialized in Gundunas' thrilling performance of ...'Vilia.' The audience responded... with thunderous applause and cheers."
San Luis Obisbo Tribune

2001

"The creamy and clear soprano of Susan Gundunas makes for an exquisitely controlled Donna Anna and a clarion reading of 'Or sai, chi l'onore.' Her simmering anger, which adds zing to her stinging indignation over Giovanni's advances, is a major plus."
Jack Neal

web reviews, March 2000

"Susan Gundunas' creamy soprano voice brought passion and drama to the role of Donna Anna whose father the Don kills. He second act solos were exquisite."

March 2000

"Susan Gundunas, an actress turned soprano, was superb as Ellen [Nosferatu]."
Opera Now

August 1998

"Gundunas displayed an amazing flexibility and purity in the exacting melismas and ornamentations of the 'Credo.' "

May 1996

"Susan Gundunas (Donna Anna) was superb on coloratura passages."

July 1996

"The best contribution came from ...Susan Gundunas who deployed her bright soprano with fervor and agility as the sought-after Romilda."

September 1996

"... Gundunas (Gilda) fires up her role with a true, radiant voice... From the innocent bliss of her 'Caro Nome' to the disillusionment of her rueful Abduction Narration, she can carry a wealth of emotions on an unblemished voice of projection and beauty. No one who heard her Saturday could doubt that an outstanding operatic career is ahead of her."
San Jose Mercury News

Febraury 1994


	REVIEWS Sondheim on Sondheim: "Equally impressive but for different reasons are the voice and delivery techniques employed by Susan Gundunas in 'Take Me to the World' (Evening Primrose) and 'I Read/Forca's Entrance' (Passion). Ms. Gundunas brings to her songs much genuine, deep-felt emotion in her voice and in her all-encompassing expressiveness. After an earlier collection of both the famous (Judy Collins, Ella, Barbra, Frank, etc.) and YouTube fifteen-minute-famers singing 'Send in the Clowns, 'Ms. Gundunas brought tears to my eyes in singing her own version of this much-recorded standard, with a stirring chorus of cast voices joining her to echo the song's refrain." Eddie Reynolds, Talkin’ Broadway READ FULL REVIEW Jan 2018 The People in the Picture: "Susan Gundunas is worth the price of the ticket as she plays both the bent-over, foot-shuffling Bubbie in modern-day New York and the wise-cracking Yiddish stage-and-film star Raisel of 1935 Warsaw." Eddie Reynolds, Talkin’ Broadway READ FULL REVIEW April 2018 "This all leads to Susan Gundunas, who as Raisel is just brilliant. Gundunas was with Opera San Jose in the '90s, and I distinctly remember a heartbreaking performance of Tosca's 'Vissi d'arte' that left me thinking, This woman can act! Perhaps the most amazing moments in the show are when she ages herself, from the '40s to the '70s, merely by changing the set of her face, the stiffness of her movements, and adding a Polish accent. It's downright Houdinian. She also demonstrates a unique ability to ditch the opera voice completely when it comes to the vaudeville numbers. Her performance of the Dybbuk number, in which she is possessed by a Jewish demon, is a glorious bit of physical/vocal humor. Later, she interrupts Butler's 'Ich, Uch, Feh,' a tribute to guttural communication, with screams of anguish, creating a moment that epitomizes the stark contrast of humor and horror everpresent in the show. " Michael J. Vaughn, Operaville READ FULL REVIEW April 2018 A Spoonful of Sherman: "Rounding out the cast of five is Susan Gundunas, who like the other four has starred in past productions of 3Below's Guggenheim Entertainment. Ms. Gundunas' 'The Whistle Tune' is one of her best numbers of the evening, offering her emotionally powerful voice in the soft, low registers where it particularly shines." Eddie Reynolds, Talkin’ Broadway READ FULL REVIEW April 2019 "Sadly, Susan Gundunas had to pull things back due to a virus, but even this was kind of entertaining, watching her deploy her usual panache and a Rex Harrison speak-sing to get through the evening. " Michael J. Vaughn, Operaville READ FULL REVIEW May 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------ "In celebration of Shakspeare's 445th birthday, soprano Susan Gundunas takes the stage with a fun, theatrical, and at times awe-inspiring performance and recording of scenes, sonnets and songs from Shakespeare in a 'mashup,' of sorts with six centuries- worth of composers inspired by the Bard." READ FULL REVIEW May 2009 "The overt drama of her delivery could also work to her advantage, when certain lines of text, such as the concluding tutti passage at 'Tall as the cedar he appears and as erect his form he bears' in her final air, became all the more spine-tingling through heightened vocal declamation." 2007 "Gifted soprano Susan Gundunas is the star of the show as Marie. She is equally adept at lyric, dramatic and the demanding coloratura ... Her dramatic skills are also stunning as she convincingly moves from a rough tough military kid to a beleaguered society girl and, finally, to a mature young lady who knows and expresses her heart's desire." July, 2004 "Susan Gundunas' soprano- sometimes lilting, sometimes piercing as she screamed in terror- was never more beautiful than in her aria 'Ellen's Serenade.' "-2004 "San Francisco soprano Susan Gundunas [sings] Norina...with twirling wit about her 'magical craft.' "-2003 "We were smitten by the heroine, Ellen Hutter. In this role, San Francisco soprano Susan Gundunas shows both heart and soul, displaying a gorgeous range, perfect pitch and expressive stage presence." October 2004 " 'The Merry Widow'' 'magic moment materialized in Gundunas' thrilling performance of ...'Vilia.' The audience responded... with thunderous applause and cheers." 2001 "The creamy and clear soprano of Susan Gundunas makes for an exquisitely controlled Donna Anna and a clarion reading of 'Or sai, chi l'onore.' Her simmering anger, which adds zing to her stinging indignation over Giovanni's advances, is a major plus." web reviews, March 2000 "Susan Gundunas' creamy soprano voice brought passion and drama to the role of Donna Anna whose father the Don kills. He second act solos were exquisite." March 2000 "Susan Gundunas, an actress turned soprano, was superb as Ellen [Nosferatu]." August 1998 "Gundunas displayed an amazing flexibility and purity in the exacting melismas and ornamentations of the 'Credo.' " May 1996 "Susan Gundunas (Donna Anna) was superb on coloratura passages." July 1996 "The best contribution came from ...Susan Gundunas who deployed her bright soprano with fervor and agility as the sought-after Romilda." September 1996 "... Gundunas (Gilda) fires up her role with a true, radiant voice... From the innocent bliss of her 'Caro Nome' to the disillusionment of her rueful Abduction Narration, she can carry a wealth of emotions on an unblemished voice of projection and beauty. No one who heard her Saturday could doubt that an outstanding operatic career is ahead of her." Febraury 1994 back to top