conductor
Embodying music with an unparalleled dramatic sensibility, soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan is an artist at the forefront of creation. Over more than three decades, she has forged extraordinary artistic partnerships with the world’s foremost musicians, directors, and choreographers, including John Zorn, Simon Rattle, Sasha Waltz, Katie Mitchell, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Kirill Petrenko. The late conductor and pianist Reinbert de Leeuw has been an extraordinary influence and inspiration on her development as a musician.
In the 2025–26 season, Hannigan returns to The Cleveland Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, l’Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Munich Philharmonic, and Iceland Symphony Orchestra (where her position as chief conductor and artistic director will begin in the 2026–27 season). She will make her New York Philharmonic conducting debut, performing her unique version of Poulenc’s La voix humaine, in which she both sings the role of Elle and conducts the orchestra. Her recital tour with Bertrand Chamayou also continues, with performances in Lausanne, Amsterdam, Gothenburg, Brussels, Madrid, Vienna, Prague, and London, and she embarks on another European tour alongside the Quatuor Belcea, singing the soprano part in Schoenberg’s Second String Quartet. In addition, Hannigan will give the world premiere of Laura Bowler’s The White Book for soprano and orchestra with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and Copenhagen Philharmonic, conducted by Bar Avni.
Hannigan’s awards and honors include being named the 2025 Polar Music Prize Laureate, Musical America’s Artist of the Year in 2025, and an Accademico Onorario (Honorary Academician) at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia. Other honors include the Order of Canada, France’s Officier des Arts et des Lettres, Gramophone’s 2022 Artist of the Year, Germany’s Faust Award, Sweden’s Rolf Schock Prize for Musical Arts, the Stena Foundation’s 2021 Cultural Scholarship, the Dresdener Musikfestspiele Glashütte Award, Denmark’s Léonie Sonning Music Prize, and Canada’s De Hueck and Walford Career Achievement Award.
Step behind the curtain and experience the world of opera through the eyes of Barbara Hannigan, a world-renowned soprano whose international career as both singer and orchestra conductor defies convention. Through discussion and a musical interlude, the event explores opera as a powerful art form, and the courage required to pursue an unlikely artistic path. This engaging experience celebrates the beauty, drama, and storytelling at the heart of opera and vocal music, and the artists who are its champions.
This special event is open to the public and is supported by The Cleveland Orchestra’s Opera Club.
Pre-paid parking is unavailable for this event. The CWRU Lot 29 garage will be at the hourly rate.
Below is a list of the features and services available in at Severance for this concert. You may also request assistance in advance of a concert by calling the Severance Ticket Office at 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141 or create a request using the button below.
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