Audrey Schuh
USABiography of Audrey Schuh
Audrey Schuh (Redmann) was born on June 11, 1931, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She studied both music and medical technology at Loyola University New Orleans, where she was taught music by Dorothy Hulse, who was also a vocal teacher for operatic tenors Harry Theyard and Charles Anthony.
Early Career
At the age of 18, Audrey Schuh made her debut as the page Oscar in the opera 'Un ballo in maschera' at the New Orleans Opera Association. This performance also featured the renowned Swedish lyric-dramatic tenor Jussi Björling. Schuh quickly became a local sensation and audience favorite.
Notable Roles
Throughout her career, Audrey Schuh performed a wide range of roles. She portrayed Zerlina in 'Don Giovanni' alongside Italian bass Italo Tajo, sang Micaëla in 'Carmen' with mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens, and took on the role of Amelia in 'Un ballo in maschera' opposite Renato Cellini. She also performed as Nannetta in 'Falstaff' alongside Leonard Warren. Her repertoire also included roles such as Roselinde von Eisenstein in 'Die Fledermaus', Gretel in 'Hänsel und Gretel', Musetta and Mimi in 'La bohème', Liù in 'Turandot', Chrysothemis in 'Elektra', Giorgetta in 'Il tabarro', and Nedda in 'Pagliacci'. Schuh had the opportunity to work with opera masters such as Licia Albanese, Giuseppe di Stefano, Norman Treigle, Birgit Nilsson, and Plácido Domingo, among others.
Notable Performances
One of Audrey Schuh's most memorable performances was when she was asked to replace the renowned Anna Moffo in 'La traviata'. She received seventeen encores and garnered enthusiastic reviews from the press. Schuh also performed as Nannetta at the San Francisco Opera, where German soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf portrayed Mrs. Ford. She sang in 'Madama Butterfly' at the Houston Grand Opera, and performed in 'La traviata' and 'La rondine' at the New England Opera Theatre. In the Jackson Opera Guild, she appeared in 'Pagliacci' and 'Die Fledermaus'.
Later Years
In 1967, Audrey Schuh performed at the New York City Opera during a memorable season at the newly established opera theater in Lincoln Center. She sang the role of Mimi in 'La bohème', appeared in 'Madama Butterfly' directed by Frank Corsaro, and performed in 'Suor Angelica' conducted by Julius Rudel. In 1977, Schuh returned to her hometown and gave her farewell performance as Micaëla at the New Orleans Opera.
Legacy
One of Audrey Schuh's sons, tenor Kirk Redmann, performed at the Metropolitan Opera from 1983 to 1990. Several recordings of Schuh's performances in New Orleans were released on the 'VAI' label between 1994 and 1999.
