Paula Rasmussen
Paula Rasmussen is an American opera singer and attorney.
A mezzo-soprano, Rasmussen landed a principal part in Les Troyens at the LA Opera in 1991.[1] In the mid-1990s she sang at the Dallas Opera, including in La Cerenterola and Gounoud's Romeo and Juliet.[2] She is strongly associated with the title role in Händel's Xerxes; among many performances, she sang the role at the Dresden Music Festival in 2000, under the direction of Christophe Rousset.[3] Other roles include Sesto in Händel's Julius Caesar in a 2001 production at the LA Opera,[4] and the title role in Carmen in 2003 with the New York City Opera.[5]
As early as 2001, Rasmussen began to find opera overly taxing on her personal life.[2] She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2007[2] and began practicing personal injury law.[6] Even after her career pivot, she continues to sing opera on a less frequent basis, and reprised the role of Xerxes at Berkeley's West Edge Opera in 2010.[2]
In 2017, Rasmussen was among several women who alleged sexual misconduct by conductor Charles Dutoit several decades previously.[1][7]
References
- 1 2 Andone, Dakin; Toropin, Konstantin; Stapleton, AnneClaire. "Famous conductor Charles Dutoit accused of sexual misconduct". CNN.
- 1 2 3 4 Gillmore, Sue. "Tuned In: Lawyer by day turns evening diva for Berkeley West Edge Opera's 'Xerxes'". The Mercury News.
- ↑ Tuttle, Raymond (2006). "Review: Händel, Serse". Classical Net.
- ↑ Looseleaf, Victoria (February 19, 2001). "Singing On High". Los Angeles Downtown News.
- ↑ Dugan, Dana (2003). "Paula Rasmussen". Idaho Mountain Express.
- ↑ The opera singer turned attorney. CNN.
- ↑ Lunden, Jeff (December 22, 2027). "Famed Conductor Charles Dutoit Faces Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct". National Public Radio.