Barbara Hannigan blazes new trail by conducting while singing
There is nothing that Barbara Hannigan likes better than taking risks.
“You can tell that by my repertoire,” says the Canadian soprano known for her mastery of New Music (nontraditional compositions by current classical composers).
So when she was prodded by a producer in 2011 to try conducting, she jumped in with both hands.
“It felt right. It felt risky, curious and strangely like being at home,” Hannigan says.
After the Paris gig, she was offered conducting jobs with the many international orchestras with which she had sung.
She soon developed a hybrid performance: singing while conducting. Her North American premiere as conductor/soloist is at Roy Thomson Hall Wednesday, when she leads the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Other than tenor Placido Domingo, Hannigan is at a loss to name any other singer who has transitioned into conducting an orchestra. She’s also a rarity because she’s female.
“Growing up, I had the perception that women only conducted choirs or school ensembles. I had no idea. I ended up choosing a career only open to women: a soprano. I had zero male competition.”
As a performer, she has had a deep involvement with “everyone participating in the score.” This respect for musicianship has earned her the trust of orchestra members, many of whom accompanied her as a soloist before seeing her at the podium.
She’s thrilled to have her North American premiere in her hometown as she “grew up” with the TSO.
The program begins with a fourminute piece, “Djamila Boupacha,” composed by Nono, which she has performed to acclaim around the world. She will also sing compositions by Ligeti and Mozart, but will just conduct the Haydn and Stravinsky symphonic compositions. Barbara Hannigan Sings & Conducts, Wednesday and Thursday, Roy Thomson Hall.