She was an operatic mezzo-soprano who studied music at Indiana University. She appeared in opera houses across Europe and the United States, including the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera. She sang roles in operas of Mozart, Massenet, and Richard Strauss. She was noted for her work in modern opera, and appeared in the first performances of John Adams' "Doctor Atomic" at the San Francisco Opera, premiering the role of Kitty Oppenheimer.