Willamette University

Music

Amy Hansen

Amy Hansen

Soprano Amy Hansen's exciting career has taken her across the United States, Europe and Asia, where she has graced the stages of the National Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C., North Carolina Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Opera Orchestra of New York, Taiwan National Theater, Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera, Michigan Opera and Sacramento Opera among others. Ms. Hansen's recent operatic roles include Leila in Pearl Fishers with Edmonton Opera, Die Zauberflöte's Queen of the Night with the National Philharmonic, and Despina in Portland Opera and Brooklyn Philharmonic productions of Cosí fan tutte. Concert highlights include New Year's Eve at the Kennedy Center ("[the National Symphony Orchestra] accompanied soprano Amy Hansen, who lavished impressive coloratura skills on arias of Mozart, Handel, Delibes and others..." Washington Post), Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with the Oregon Symphony, and opera arias in a gala series with the New Israeli Opera Symphony.  She has been hailed as "a Helen Hunt with pipes", "stellar", her voice "clear yet rich and vibrant,". (Oregonian) Of her performances with Portland Opera: "But the prize of the evening goes to Hansen's adorable Despina... Hansen delivered splendidly..." (Willamette Week)


In Oregon, you may have seen Ms. Hansen performing at the Cascade Festival of Music, the Astoria Music Festival, or with Portland Opera, the Oregon Symphony, the Eugene Symphony, the Portland Symphonic Choir, Opera Theater Corvallis, Rogue Valley Opera, Portland Summerfest, at Mt. Angel Abbey, with Third Angle, at Festa Italiana, or River Rythms at Monteith Park.  Some of her operatic roles performed include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, title role in Lakmé, Gilda in Rigoletto, Anina in L'Elisir d'Amore, Norina in Don Pasquale, Violetta in La Traviata, Marguerite in Faust, Micaela in Carmen, Musetta in La Bohème, Pat Nixon in Nixon in China, Gretel in Hansel & Gretel, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and both the Queen of the Night and Pamina in different productions of Magic Flute.

Ms. Hansen graduated with honors from Oberlin College Conservatory and, after studies at Indiana University, concertized extensively as a resident artist with the Portland Opera. She is a Metropolitan Opera Auditions regional finalist, Ellen Faull Gordon vocal competition winner, an Eleanor Lieber Awards winner, and Petri grant recipient.  She can be heard on the Decca label recording of The Tenderland, conducted by Murry Sidlin and performed with Third Angle.  Though much of her time has been spent in opera, Ms. Hansen particularly enjoys recitals and collaborating in chamber works.  Whether early works of Purcell or newly composed works of the 21st century, finding the musical contour fitting the performers involved is the heart of music making.

Reviews

Reviews:
"Hansen is electrifying in her role as Leila, particularly on the aria Comme autrefois" Edmonton Journal March 2009

"[Calgary Opera] was greatly blessed by the principal singers, each of whom was perfectly suited to his or her role.  American soprano Amy Hansen was the complete Lakme.  With her bell-like voice and secure technique, she encompassed the virtuoso writing with ease, the top of her voice radiant, her lyrical singing meltingly beautiful.  On stage, she completely inhabited the role, her acting pointed and convincing at every turn."  Opera Canada November 2004

"... accompanied soprano Amy Hansen, who lavished impressive coloratura skills on arias of Mozart, Handel, Delibes and others..." Washington Post 1/2/2 New Year's Eve Concert with National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center

"But the prize of the evening goes to Hansen's adorable Despina...Hansen delivered splendidly..." Willamette Week 2/13/02 Portland Opera, Cosi (Despina)

"Amy Hansen displays a rich, textured voice, whether she's belting a seductive, bluesy number or delivering a sensitive, introspective ballad about growing old."
"Amy, a Helen Hunt with pipes." Oregonian re: premiere of jazz musical Look at Us Now

"... their last sustained note was exquisite, especially Hansen's high C. The first half of the program closed with Hansen singing an aria from Donizetti's "Linda di Chamounix." She managed the spectacular coloratura of the music with complete security. Her tone was always warm and appealing, and the rapid passage work was always clean and precise. It would be a pleasure to hear Hansen again, to hit the high E that she nailed so securely in the Donizetti." The Register Guard 1/15/2 Soloist with Oregon Mozart Players

"Hansen has a lovely voice with both the agility and the dramatic presence for the daunting Queen of the Night role...she absolutely nailed the infamous high F's in Der Holle Rache, and the audience loved her." Oregonian 2/1/99 Soloist with Oregon Symphony

"Hansen sang the wickedly high "Queen of the Night" aria with poise and drama" Oregonian 9/24/98 Soloist with Oregon Symphony