Susana Zabaleta was born on September 30, 1964 in Monclova, Coahuila - Mexico. he studied opera in Florence, Italy, and culminated her studies by graduating as soloist from the Escuela Superior de Música in Mexico City

At the beginning of her career, she participated in concerts with the Camera Orchestra of the Ollín Yoliztli Auditorium, appearing in such operas as "La Traviata", "Elixir de Amor" and "Dido & Aeneas". Simultaneously she performed in theater, pantomime and opera with the “Quién es Quién” group.

Susana continued her singing training under the teachings of Irma González, Enrique Patrón and Martha Félix, and her acting lessons with Benjamín Cann, one of our country's most acclaimed escene directors.

During 1986 and 1987, Susana was invited to participate in the mexican productions of such plays as Fiddler on the Roof" and "Barnum", followed in 1988 by "Man of La Mancha" and "Steel Magnolias". By that time it was clear that Susana would become one of the country's most acclaimed actresses.

Because of her high quality work as a singer and actress, Susana received the Discovery of the Year Award, one granted by El Heraldo de México, and another by El Sol de México. She was also honored by the Mexican Critics and Communications Media Association.

In 1989 she appeared in the mexican musical productions of "Qué Plantón", "Nunsense" and in 1991 in "Cats". She then played major roles in "Funesta" and "Grand Magic".

In 1995, Susana recorded her first album under the direction of Luis Carlos Esteban, in Madrid, Spain. With "¿O...fue un sueño?", title of this first production, Susana's fresh and actual lyrics plus her avantgardist rythms and sounds, projected her as one of Mexico's most important feminine interpreters of contemporary pop music.

Her prestige aroused interests within Disney Productions who called Susana to be the singing voice of the main themes for the spanish version of their film "Pocahotas".

During that time she was also invited to participate in television. Her first roles were in the soap operas "Al Filo de la Muerte", "Cadenas de Amargura", "Milagro y Magia", "La Sombra del otro" and "Pueblo chico infierno grande".

In 1996, Susana played her first lead role in the motion picture "Sobrenatural (All of them Witches)", movie that gained her important recognitions such as "La Diosa de Plata (Silver Goddess)" and special mentions at the Puerto Rico and Huelva Film Festivals. That same year Susana Zabaleta stars in "Cossi Fan Tutte" (opera in cinema) and "Elisa antes del fin del mundo (Elisa before the end of the World)".

It's in 1997 when Susana recorded her second album entitled “Desde el Baño”, a work considered "a new proposal" of pop. As a team she had the literary participation of David Torrens, of highly prestigious musicians such as Sabo Romo, Eugenio and Fernando Toussaint and the musical production of mexico's well known Memo Gil.

In 1998 she returned to television, playing her first villain in the soap opera "Una Luz en el camino”, role that gained her the respect of the media critics.
It was in 1998 when Susana stared in one of Mexico's most important and acclaimed movies, "Sexo, Pudos y Lagrimas (Sex, Shame and Tears)", written and directed by Antonio Serrano. Her role as Ana gained her the public's and the critic's true respect, reaffirmed her histrionic quality and popularity, and awarded her the Best Actress recognition by El Heraldo and El Ariel (Mexico's Oscars).

After the great success of the movie, Susana reasserts her love for opera and the Bel Canto, playing the leading role in the Opera Bufa "El Telefono (The Telephone)".

The year 2000 marks Susana's return to the stage in the mexican staging of "Man of La Mancha" where she played the main female character, Aldonza, under the production of Morris Gilbert and the direction of Rafael Sánchez Navarro.
During that same year she also interpreted the antagonic lead character of Ema, in the soap opera "Mi destino eres tu", under the production hands of Carla Estrada and sharing credits with Mexico's well known Lucero and Jorge Salinas.

In June of 2000, Susana offers six concerts at Mexico's National Auditorium, singing with tenor Alfredo Portilla and Mexico's National Chorus, accompanied by the Camera Orchestra of Bellas Artes, and directed by maestro Enrique Barrios.

In 2001, Susana filmed the motion picture "Vivir Mata" and in 2002 she received an invitation from Channel 22, to conduct the television program "Cultura en Línea”, dedicated to the arts and culture.

She was also invited to perform at the Festival Internacional Agustín Lara, at the Festival del Barrio Antiguo de Monterrey and to participate in the mexican [production of “The Vagina Monologues”.

In 2002 she recorded the album "El pasado nos vuelve a pasar" with Memo Gil as musical director and under the Universal Music label. She was accompanied by mexican tenor Mauro Calderon. This record in an homage to mexican cinema soundtracks.

In November of 2002, Susana releases her "Navidad (Christmas)" album, produced by Eugenio Toussaint under the Fonovisa México label.
In 2003 Disney Studios called her once again to dubb the female voice for the spanish version of "Sinbad, Legend of the Seven Seas".

She then recorded the albums "Quiero sentir bonito" in 2004 and "Para darle cuerda al mundo" in 2005, singing original songs by Liliana Felipe.

Susana has presented her concerts in Mexico City at the Sala Nezahualcoyotl, the National Auditorium, the National Center of the Arts Theater, the San Ildefonso College and the Mineria Palace and in 2005 she was honored to participate in Japan's Expo Aichi Festival.

Source: susanazabaleta.com

FILMOGRAPHY:

"Bajo la misma piel" (2003) Telenovela .... Ivonne
"Salomé" (2001) Telenovela .... Susana
Vivir mata (2001) Movie .... Silvia
"Mi destino eres tú" (2000) Telenovela .... Emma
Sexo, pudor y lágrimas aka Sex, Shame & Tears (1999) Movie .... Ana
"Luz en el camino, Una" (1998) Telenovela .... Astrid
"Pueblo chico, infierno grande" (1997) Telenovela
Elisa antes del fin del mundo aka Elisa Before the End of the World (1997) Movie .... Elisa's Mother
"Sombra del otro, La" (1996) Telenovela .... Lic. Amaral
Sobrenatural aka All of them Witches (1995) Movie .... Dolores Berthier
"Milagro y magia" (1991) Telenovela
"Cadenas de amargura" (1991) Telenovela

ALSO IN THEATRE:

Monólogos de la Vagina
Violinista en el tejado
Mi vida es mi vida
Magnolias de acero
Cats
Que Planton

DISCOGRAPHY:

Siempre el Pasado nos Vuelve a Pasar (2001)
Desde el banio (1997)
...O fue un suenio? (1995)

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