Barbara Hannigan
Encyclopedia
Barbara Hannigan is a Canadian soprano. She received a strong musical upbringing from the music teachers in Waverley.
After growing up in Waverley, Hannigan moved to Toronto at age 17. She studied music at the University of Toronto
, where her teachers included Mary Morrison. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music
degree in 1993 and a Master of Music
degree in 1998. She continued her studies at the Banff Centre
for the Arts, the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival, and the Centre d’arts Orford
. She also studied for one year at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
, where her teachers included Meinard Kraak. Other teachers have included Neil Semer.
Hannigan is particularly renowned for her performances of contemporary music. As of 2011, she has premiered approximately 75 contemporary compositions. She is particularly noted for her performances of György Ligeti
's Mysteries of the Macabre, and in 2011, she has begun to conduct the work in addition to singing the vocal part. Her work in contemporary opera has included singing in the premieres of Louis Andriessen
's Writing to Vermeer and Gerald Barry
's The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Her commercial recordings in contemporary music include the premiere recording of Writing to Vermeer (Nonesuch), music of Luca Francesconi (Kairos) and of Harry Freedman
(Centrediscs). She is also featured on four Naxos recordings of vocal works of George Frideric Handel
, L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
, Gideon, Rinaldo
, and Tobit.
Hannigan is married to the Dutch theatre director Gijs de Lange. The two of them worked together on stage in a production of The Mikado
in 2006. The couple make their home in Amsterdam.
After growing up in Waverley, Hannigan moved to Toronto at age 17. She studied music at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, where her teachers included Mary Morrison. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
degree in 1993 and a Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
degree in 1998. She continued her studies at the Banff Centre
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
for the Arts, the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival, and the Centre d’arts Orford
Orford, Quebec
Orford is a township of 3,000 people, part of the Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec.Orford's main attraction is its ski resort on Mount Orford. Mount Orford attracts thousands of people every winter....
. She also studied for one year at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
Royal Conservatory of The Hague
The Royal Conservatory of The Hague is a conservatorium of music, providing higher education in music and dance, it is located in The Hague, Netherlands.-The Conservatory:...
, where her teachers included Meinard Kraak. Other teachers have included Neil Semer.
Hannigan is particularly renowned for her performances of contemporary music. As of 2011, she has premiered approximately 75 contemporary compositions. She is particularly noted for her performances of György Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
's Mysteries of the Macabre, and in 2011, she has begun to conduct the work in addition to singing the vocal part. Her work in contemporary opera has included singing in the premieres of Louis Andriessen
Louis Andriessen
Louis Andriessen is a Dutch composer and pianist based in Amsterdam. He teaches composition at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague...
's Writing to Vermeer and Gerald Barry
Gerald Barry
Gerald Barry is an Irish composer.Born in Clarecastle, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, he studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Mauricio Kagel. His music is notable for its inherent use of real thematic development. Although , paradoxically, Barry's music shifts between blocks of thematic...
's The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Her commercial recordings in contemporary music include the premiere recording of Writing to Vermeer (Nonesuch), music of Luca Francesconi (Kairos) and of Harry Freedman
Harry Freedman
Harry Freedman , was a Canadian composer, english hornist, and music educator of Polish birth. He wrote a significant amount of symphonic works, including several film scores, and also composed a substantial amount of chamber music...
(Centrediscs). She is also featured on four Naxos recordings of vocal works of George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato is a pastoral ode by George Frideric Handel based on the poetry of John Milton.-History:Handel composed the work over the period of 19 January to 4 February 1740, and the work was premiered on 27 February 1740 at the Royal Theatre of Lincoln's Inn Fields...
, Gideon, Rinaldo
Rinaldo (opera)
Rinaldo is an opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1711. It is the first Italian language opera written specifically for the London stage. The libretto was prepared by Giacomo Rossi from a scenario provided by Aaron Hill. The work was first performed at the Queen's Theatre in London's...
, and Tobit.
Hannigan is married to the Dutch theatre director Gijs de Lange. The two of them worked together on stage in a production of The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
in 2006. The couple make their home in Amsterdam.