Audio selections

Biography

American born Soprano Andrea Hanson returns to America after many successful seasons in Europe. Last November Ms. Hanson performed the role of The Woman in La voix humaine, with Pittsburgh Chamber Music project. In February 2002 she made her debut with the Athena Grand Opera as the Countess in its production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. 

In May 2002 Ms. Hanson travels to Natchez to perform the title role of Cio-Cio San in Puccini's Madama Butterfly with the Natchez Opera Festival. In August she will perform the role of Mimi with the Lyric Opera of San Antonio. In April 2004 Ms. Hanson will make her debut with the Tulsa Opera in the role of Antonia in its production of Les Contes d'Hoffmann. She brings a wealth of experience and dramatic intensity to her performances. In past seasons, she has been heard in the title role of MANON LESCAUT, Mimi in LA BOHEME, Donna Elvira in DON GIOVANNI, Desdemona in OTELLO, the Female Chorus in THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA, Marguerite in FAUST, the Fox in THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN, Leonore in IL TROVATORE, the Countess in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, and both Antonia and Giulietta in TALES OF HOFFMANN, among many others. Her last season in Europe was filled with performances of the Marschallin in DER ROSENKAVALIER, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, THE MERRY WIDOW, Vitellia in LA CLEMENZA DI TITO and LUISA MILLER. 

Miss Hanson studied Voice Education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. She continued her studies at Oklahoma City University, receiving both a Master of Music in Voice and a Master of Performing Arts in Opera. Her studies were partially financed through the Miss America Pageant Scholarship Program, as she had been one of the top ten finalists in the national competition as Miss Oklahoma. Her career in the U. S. included appearances at the Santa Fe Opera Company, Tulsa Opera, Wichita Summer Musicals, Oklahoma Theater Center and Oklahoma City Opera. She is also a winner of the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions and the San Francisco District Opera Auditions. After participating in the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, Miss Hanson began her European Career in Germany, singing at the theater in Oberhausen and continuing her activities as concert singer. She left Germany in order to study and sing in Italy, where she was a member of the ensemble at the Teatro Communale in Florence for three years.

Returning to Germany, she took an engagement with the United Theaters of Krefeld and Moenchengladbach where she performed the leading roles for ten years until her departure in July to pursue a career in America. Her European performnces as guest artist have included such theaters as the Semper Opera in Dresden, Gärtnerplatz Theater in Munich, Dortmund, the State Theater in Oldenburg, the Munich Biennale Modern Opera Festival, the Eutin Summer Opera Festival, Heidelberg, Wuppertal, Kiel, Trier, Gelsenkirchen and Detmold. 

Future productions

Mimi

La Boheme

Lyric Opera of San Antonio

(8/02)

Cio-Cio San

Madama Butterfly 

Natchez Opera Festival

(5/02)

The Countess

Le Nozze di Figaro

Natchez Opera Festival

(2/02)

Professional experience

United Theaters of Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, Krefeld and Mönchengladbach, Germany, 1991 - Present

Theater Oberhausen, Oberhausen, Germany, Member of Resident Ensemble for two seasons

Teatro Communale, Florence, Italy, Member of Resident Ensemble for three seasons

As guest at the following theaters in Germany:

Semper Opera, Dresden; Munich Biennale Modern Opera Festival; Gärtnerplatz Theater, Munich; State Theater Oldenburg; Theater Dortmund; Theater Kiel; Theater Heidelberg; Eutin Summer Opera Festival; Theater Wuppertal; Theater Gelsenkirchen; Theater Trier; Theater Detmold; Classical and Ballet Entertainments, Hannover.

As guest in U.S.: Santa Fe Opera Company; Tulsa Opera Company; Oklahoma City Opera; Oklahoma Lyric Theater, Wichita Summer Musicals.

Roles Performed at Krefeld Germany

Bizet, Georges

Micaela

Carmen

Britten, Benjamin

Ellen Orford

Peter Grimes

Female Chorus

The Rape of Lucretia

Lady Billows

Albert Herring

Dallapiccola, Luigi

La Madre

Il Prigionero

Floyd, Carlisle

Susannah

Susannah

Gounod, Charles

Marguerite

Faust

Janacek, Leos

Fox

The Cunning Little Vixen

Kalman, Emmerich

Mariza

Countess Mariza

Csàrdàsfürstin

Csàrdàsfürstin

Lehar, Franz

Hannah

The Merry Widow

Lisa

The Land of Smiles

Leoncavallo, Ruggiero

Nedda

I Pagliacci

Menotti, Gian-Carlo

Monica

The Medium

Mozart, W. A.

Contessa

Le Nozze di Figaro

First Lady

The Magic Flute

Donna Elvira

Don Giovanni

Donna Anna

Don Giovanni

Arminda

La Finta Giardiniera

Vitellia

La Clemenza di Tito

Offenbach, Jacques

Antonia/Giulietta

Tales of Hoffmann

Poulenc, Francis

The Woman

La Voix Humaine

Puccini, Giacomo

Mimi

La Bohème

Musetta

La Bohème

Cio-cio-san

Madama Butterfly

Suor Angelica

Suor Angelica

Manon Lescaut

Manon Lescaut

Strauss, Johann, Jr.

Rosalinde

Die Fledermaus

Saffi

The Gypsy Baron

Strauss, Richard

Marschallin

Der Rosenkavalier

Verdi, Giuseppe

Violetta

La Traviata

Luisa

Luisa Miller

Desdemona

Otello

Alice Ford

Falstaff

Leonora

Il Trovatore

Weill, Kurt

Jenny

The Rise and Fall of the City of

Mahagonny

Selected concert repertoire

Beethoven, Ludwig van

Ninth Symphony

Mass in C

Bizet, Georges

Te Deum

Brahms, Johannes

Requiem

Händel, Georg Friedrich

Psalm 112

Messiah

Haydn, Josef

The Creation

Lord Nelson Mass

Paukenmesse

Mozart, W.A.

Requiem

Krönungsmesse

Missa Solemnis in C

Exultate Jubilate

Pergolesi, Giovanni

Stabat Mater

Poulenc, Francis

Gloria

Stabat Mater

Rossini, Giacchino

Messe Solenelle

Stabat Mater

Strauss, Richard

Four Last Songs

Stravinsky, Igor

Le Noce

Verdi, Giuseppe

Requiem

Vivaldi, Antonio

Beatus Vir

Gloria

Magnificat

Weill, Kurt

Der Neue Orpheus

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Voice Education, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK, USA
Master of Music, Voice, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Master of Performing Arts, Opera, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
American Institute of Music Studies, Graz, Austria
Private Voice Study: Dr. Ralph Whitworth, Northeastern State University
Mrs. Inez Silberg, Oklahoma City University
Herr Hendrikus Rootering, Germany
Frau Leena Rasilainen, Germany 

Competitions and awards

Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions Finalist
San Francisco Opera Regional Auditions Finalist

Reviews

The Human Voice - Francis Poulenc United Theaters Krefeld/ Moenchengladbach
This member of the (Krefeld – Moenchengladbach ) ensemble confirmed her high ranking in this house. Andrea Hanson has been a leader among the sopranos for some years with a wide spectrum of roles from Marguerite in Faust to her recent Marschallin in Rosenkavalier. In addition, the American born soprano shows no fear in the area of Operetta and Musical. Now, with her interpretation of ‘‘ The Human Voice ‘‘ she has proven the power of her acting talents, which the audience acclaimed with a standing ovation.
Die Deutsche Bühne Christoph Zimmermann (Germany) Oktober 1999

Der Rosenkavalier – R.Strauss United Theaters Krefeld/ Moenchengladbach
Andrea Hanson, as the Marschallin, portrayed a maturity and receptiveness for all the things her world had bestowed upon her – even the loss of her dreams. That Hanson resisted the temptation to play the hero and oversing her sacrifice of Octavian in the lst Act, as well as her tender renunciation of that love in the 4^th Act, show a great inner feeling for the role. Hanson`s undiminished freshness in her magnificent soprano voice was able to carry over Strauss` orchestration extremely well.
Rheinische Post Wolfram Goertz (Krefeld Germany ) April 6, 1999

The Marriage of Figaro - United Theaters Krefeld/ Moenchengladbach
The two strongest points of the Figaro production in Krefeld are Figaro and the Countess. Andrea Hanson as the Countess both looked and sounded convincing. She provides her role with glowing pride and blissful melancholy.
Westdeutsche Zeitung – Dirk Richerdt ( Krefeld Germany) September 28, 1998

Albert Herring - Britten United Theaters Krefeld/ Moenchengladbach
The rhythms in this piece are complicated and vocal lines are not at all easy to handle. With some singers this was mastered effortlessly, such as Andrea Hanson as Lady Billows. With her irresistable voice she created a believability in the character’s well meaning tyranny.
Westdeutsche Zeitung Dita von Szadkowski (Krefeld Germany) February 12, 1998

Four Last Songs - R.Strauss Moenchengladbach Concerthall
Andrea Hanson mastered the FOUR LAST SONGS with superior style and brilliance. She portrayed each song with warmth and believable sincerity. Appreciative and enthusiastic applause was given by both the audience and the fellow musicians of the orchestra, for such an accomplished performance.
Rheinische Post Petra Riederer-Sitte (Moenchengladbach Germany) September 27, 1998

Tales of Hoffmann – Offenbach United Theaters Krefeld/Moenchengladbach
First, Andrea Hanson is excellent as Giuletta, whose soprano voice remained secure and voluptuous throughout her entire register with continuity to the highest tones.
Rheinische Post Reinhold Breil (Moenchengladbach Germany) March 30, 1998

Il Trovatore – United Theaters Krefeld/ Moenchengladbach
Andrea Hanson, as Leonora, proved she must not stand behind any singer, and confirmed once again her abilities to harmonize strength and subtlety in unison with evident vocal beauty.
Rheinische Post Dirk Richerdt (Moenchengladbach Germany) September 27, 1997

The Cunning Little Vixen - Janacek United Theaters Krefeld/Moenchengladbach
Balancing a continuity in all registers of the voice, Andrea Hanson mastered the role of the Fox.
Rheinische Post ( Moenchengladbach Germany) December 12, 1997

The Cunning Little Vixen – Janacek United Theaters Krefeld/Moenchengladbach
First and foremost the three positive points of the evening: ... Andrea Hanson as the Fox, brilliantly sung and acted, is a fascinating partner in the Pantsrole – a perfect voice.
Meerbuscher Nachrichten Peter Bilsing (Meerbusch Germany) December 14, 1997

Gloria - Poulenc
Gloria Mass - Puccini Cologne Concert Hall
A large part of the success of the evening is attributed to the soprano voice of Andrea Hanson. In both works she presented her roles discerningly and with expression.
Köln Stadtanzeiger Hajo Schröder ( Cologne Germany ) March 3, 1997

Otello - United Theaters Krefeld/ Moenchengladbach
Andrea Hanson matched Otello’s qualities, fulfilling all of the demanding challenges of the role Desdemona with a lyric expressiveness and beauty of the voice.
Orpheus Daniel Nayber (Germany) January 1996

Otello - United Theaters Krefeld/ Moenchengladbach
The 4^th Act belongs to Desdemona, and the ceremony of murder in ‘‘ opera tempo ‘‘ is made plausible alone through the highly gifted and lyrical soprano voice of Andrea Hanson. Her interpretation of the Willow Song was the most moving moment to hear in this season.
Rheinische Post Dirk Richerdt ( Krefeld Germany ) February 13, 1996

Manon Lescaut - United Theaters Krefeld/Moenchengladbach
Anyone who would like to enjoy an evening of Bel Canto should go to Moenchengladbach. The trip would be worth it alone if only to hear the leading role by Andrea Hanson who is outstanding.  Her Manon combines a royal and courtly distinction together with a young lady’s charm. She skillfully manages the 3^rd and 4^th act tricky plot problems with her powerful characterization. Hanson was able to control Puccini’s vocal score with contrasting power in the turbulent forte passages and finely spinning the piano nuances as no other in this ensemble.
Rheinische Post Dirk Richerdt (Duesseldorf Germany) December 1995

Manon Lescaut - Moenchengladbach

The near frenetic applause of the Premiere audience was attributed to the lady of the evening: Andrea Hanson. Her Manon glissened in every phrase of the dramatic tragedy and she gave each facet of the music an expressivity that only well-educated voices can achieve: bittersweet pianissimo, the right emphasis on exploding fortes, and above all the pleasure of love and the brutality of death.

Westdeutsche Zeitung Armin Kaumanns (Moenchengladbach Germany) December 1995

German Requiem Brahms Bielefeld Rudolf Oetker Halle

Andrea Hanson amazed all with her large yet cultivated, soaring lyric soprano voice, which was cabable of an astonishing capacity of modulation and versatility. The highest register remained powerful and pliable.

Bielefelder Tageblatt (Bielefeld Germany) November 3, 1995

Don Giovanni - United Theaters Krefeld/ Moenchengladbach

Andrea Hanson left us with a fabulous impression in her role as Donna Elvira. She so completely convinced us with her coloratura voice, that in the dramatic moments – fearless yet with risk – she was able to master the Mozart brilliance that the role requires.

Rheinische Post Dirk Richerdt (Moenchengladbach Germany) Oktober 1995

Il Prigioniero - Dallapiccola Munich Philharmonie

After a short prelude (Munich Symphony Orchestra), the Mother begins her mournful and plaintive song of her imprisoned son. The voice of Andrea Hanson and her impressive stage presence made one forget that this was a concert version of the opera.
Süddeutsche Zeitung Helmut Mauro´ (Munich Germany) May 26, 1994

La Finta Giardinera - Mozart United Theaters Krefeld/Moenchengladbach
In singing and acting, Andrea Hanson was able to master this style with assuredness, superiority and passion. But above all, she sang in a continuous stylistically correct Mozart fashion.
Oper und Concert (Germany) June 21, 1994

Performance photos