 | Hannah S. Penn - The ChildMezzo sopranoFormer Portland Opera Studio Artist
Previously at Portland Opera:
Carmen, Carmen, 2007; Mercedes, Carmen, 2007; Tisbe, Cinderella, 2007; Nancy, Albert Herring, 2008; Flora Bervoix, La Traviata, 2008; Diana/Giove in Diana, La Calisto, 2009; Giovanna, Rigoletto, 2009 Mezzo-soprano Hannah Penn enjoys a diverse career as a performer of opera, oratorio, and recital literature. Frequently praised for her musicality and the timbre of her voice, Ms. Penn has recently been called “…a major talent”, and “…an intelligent and wonderfully musical singer” by Portland’s Willamette Week, and was praised for having “…intriguing colors at both ends of her range” by The Oregonian. She has performed with Florida Grand Opera, Portland Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Opera Omaha, and Gotham Chamber Opera, in addition to numerous roles with Indiana University, where she was a student for six years. A lover of new music, Ms. Penn has performed in the American premiere tours of John Adam's El Nino and Sven-David Sandstrom's High Mass, and has been involved in the American premiers of several operas, including Anthony Davis’ Wakonda’s and David Carlson’s Anna Karenina at Florida Grand Opera. As a recitalist, Ms. Penn has participated in the Steans Institute’s Vocal Chamber Music program, where she performed works by Jake Heggie under the composer’s direction. Ms. Penn studied German Lied for three years with renowned collaborative pianist Leonard Hokanson. She has performed in a staged recital of Hugo Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch under the direction of the great lieder singer Hakan Hagegård, and in 2005 she participated in a masterclass on Schubert Lieder given by James Levine at Carnegie Hall.
As a member of Portland Opera’s Studio Artist Program from 2007 to 2009, Ms. Penn sang the roles of Thisbe (La Cenerentola), Mercedes (Carmen), Flora (La Traviata), and Nancy (Albert Herring). She also sang her first Carmen, under somewhat unusual circumstances; Ms. Penn was covering the role and went on with 24-hours notice, to critical acclaim. The next summer she had the chance to reprise the role while making her international debut at the Teatro National Sucre in Quito, Ecuador. Operatic engagements for the 2009- 2010 season included Giovanna (Rigoletto) and Diana in Cavalli’s La Calisto, both through Portland Opera, and Cherubino with Tacoma Opera. Ms. Penn also gave concert performances with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra and with BodyVox, a modern dance troupe.
Ms. Penn received her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Indiana University. She finished her coursework for the Doctorate of Musical Arts at New England Conservatory this fall.
www.hannahpenn.com |
Hannah S. Penn - The Child