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Lakme's Bell Song

Soprano Amy Hansen’s lithe, exquisite voice and breath-taking acting have won her acclaim on operatic and symphonic stages alike. Opera Canada wrote of her title role performance with Calgary Opera, “Hansen was the complete Lakmé…she encompassed the virtuoso writing with ease, the top of her voice radiant, her lyrical singing meltingly beautiful…her acting pointed and convincing at every turn.”

A featured soloist at the Kennedy Center, the Washington Post reported, "[the National Symphony Orchestra] accompanied soprano Amy Hansen, who lavished impressive coloratura skills on arias of Mozart..." The Oregonian called her “stellar”, “adorable”, and, when she debuted with Oregon Symphony, "Hansen sang the wickedly high "Queen of the Night" aria with poise and drama…she absolutely nailed the infamous high F's… and the audience loved her."

YouTube video: Amy singing the Bell Song

YouTube video: Amy singing the Jewel Song

Ms. Hansen’s contagious joy and effortless beauty continue to make her an audience favorite, hailed as “electrifying", her voice “clear yet rich and vibrant", and her favorite appellation: “a Helen Hunt with pipes”. Concert highlights include Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Oregon Symphony, and opera arias with the New Israeli Opera Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, and Vermont Symphony.

Ms. Hansen has enjoyed great success with the tragic title role in Lakmé, performing the Indian princess in Israel, Canada, and the U.S.

"[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 Lakmé. 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)

"Hansen is electrifying in her role as Leila, particularly on the aria Comme autrefois” Edmonton Journal March 2009 (if you know Pearl Fishers, you know there's nothing particularly electrifying about any of it - just the beautiful man duet - so I musta been good!)

Of her performances with Portland Opera: "But the prize of the evening goes to Hansen's adorable Despina... Hansen delivered splendidly..." (Willamette Week)

Her solo appearances range from pops with the North Carolina Symphony to heroines at the Michigan Opera, solos at the Tel Aviv Theater and operatic deaths at Calgary Opera. She debuted with the Oregon Symphony singing the Queen of the Night arias. Ms. Hansen has graced the stages of the National Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C., Vermont Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Opera Orchestra of New York, Taiwan National Theater, Teatro di Urbania, Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera, Michigan Opera and Portland Opera among others.

Additionally, her roles performed include 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.

Concert highlights include New Year's Eve at the Kennedy Center, Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with the Oregon Symphony, and opera arias in a gala series with the New Israeli Opera Symphony. You may have seen Ms. Hansen performing at the Cascade Festival of Music, the Astoria Music Festival, at Mt. Angel Abbey, with Third Angle, or at Portland's Festa Italiana.

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.

Ms. Hansen lives in Oregon and though singing has had to simmer on the back burner while she raised her children, you know a slow simmer brings out the richest flavor! Summer of 2018, she completed her MM in vocal performance at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She teaches voice at Oregon State University and in her independent studio and thoroughly enjoys performing regionally.

Reviews:

“…Amy Hansen’s coloratura is silver and crystal in Donna Anna’s grieving arias.” Edmonton Journal November 2006

"... 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

"... 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