Mezzo-Soprano
Hanna Hipp

Reviews
On Stage


  BIOGRAPHY  

 

Hanna Hipp’s ardent and impassioned singing make her a favourite for the leading lyric mezzo repertoire around the world with her recent roles including a critically acclaimed portrayal of OFFRED in “The Handmaid’s Tale” at Royal Danish Theatre , the COMPOSER in “Ariadne auf Naxos” at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the Opera North, DORABELLA in “Così fan tutte” at Seattle Opera, at the English National Opera and the New Zealand Opera, CHERUBINO in “Le nozze di Figaro” with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden under the musical direction of Antonio Pappano.

Hanna Hipp sang her first VARVARA in “Katya Kabanova” at the Scottish Opera, and the title role in Offenbach’s Fantasio and her first OCT, , the COUNTESS OF ESSEX in “Gloriana” at the Teatro Real Madrid in David McVicar’s new production under Ivor Bolton, EIN PAGE in Ivo van Hove’s new production at the Dutch National Opera, ISOLIER in “Le Comte Ory” and BEATRICE in “Beatrice and Benedict at the Seattle Opera, the former of which Hipp reprised this past season at the New Zealand Opera.

Increasingly in demand on the concert platform, in the 2024/25 season Hanna Hipp joined the Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra for Berio’s Folk Songs, the Hallé for Boulanger’s Psalm 130,the Royal Scottish National Orchestra with Mozart’s Requiem. With the London Philharmonic Orchestra she sang Haydn’s Missa in tempore belli and concert performances of The Excursions of Mr Brouček with Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra. Recently, she also performed in “Jenůfa” and Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater at the Barbican.

Moreover, Hanna Hipp sang Viva España featuring De Falla’s El amor brujo, with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Bruckner’s Mass No.3 at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Further recent concert highlights include PAGE in “Salome” at both the Bergen and Edinburgh International Festival, the DRUMMER in Ullmann’s “Der Kaiser von Atlantis” with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the title role in Mascagni’s ZANETTO with the Orchestra of the Scottish Opera and ROSSWEISE in “Die Walküre” with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Recent notable operatic appearances include Frederico Garcia LORCA in two productions of Osvaldo Golijov’s “Ainadamar” at the Welsh National Opera and the Pacific Opera Victoria as well as HÄNSEL in “Hänsel und Gretel” at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

This season Hanna Hipp returned to the English National Opera to sing CHERUBINO in “Le nozze di Figaro” and performed The Strauss Collection including excerpts of the COMPOSER (from Ariadne auf Naxos) and OCTAVIAN (from Der Rosenkavalier) at the Scottish National Opera. Future engagements include OFFRED at the Helsinki Opera as well as Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass under Sir Simon Rattle with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra.

Hanna Hipp collaborates with such renowned conductors like Jessica Cottis, Cornelius Meister, Anthony Hermus, Paul Daniel, Kerim Hasan, Natalie Murray Beala, Daniele Gatti, Halldis Rønning, Thomas Zehetmair, Edward Gardner, David Parry, Vladimir Jurowski, Mark Wigglesworth, Josep Pons,just to name a few and producers like Ivor Bolton.

In 2018 the CD Sera d'inverno- Songs by Ildebrando Pizzetti with Hanna Hipp singing and Emma Abbate on piano was released at Resonus.



 
 
REVIEWS
 
Buxton International Festival – Trouble in Tahiti – DINAH
In an expressive and deeply felt character portrayal, Bernstein’s beautiful song “A Quiet Place” became Hanna Hipp’s most moving moment.
The Arts Desk
theartsdesk.com
Charles Rice and Hanna Hipp delivered devastating, almost feral performances as Sam and Dinah.
Planet Hugill
planethugill.com
Both Charles Rice and Hanna Hipp portrayed the quarrelling couple with strong expressiveness, without ever seeming tense or overwhelmed by anger.
Classical Source
classicalsource.com
English National Opera – The Marriage of Figaro – CHERUBINO
This production was performed for only one evening in 2020 before theatres had to close due to lockdown. Now it returns with a new cast — except for the outstanding Hanna Hipp as the young Cherubino.
The Telegraph
telegraph.co.uk
Hanna Hipp gives a spirited Cherubino; her lovestruck song to the Countess is a dreamy, playful number complete with its own little dance routine.
The Guardian
theguardian.com
Hanna Hipp’s Cherubino deserves special mention — a portrayal that deconstructs youthful desire with remarkable nuance, presenting the character as a complex exploration of awakening sexuality and social transgression.
Scene Magazine
scenemag.co.uk
New Zealand Opera Auckland – Le Comte Ory – ISOLIER
Hanna Hipp’s dynamic Isolier is not a traditional trouser role here, but Ory’s very feminine physiotherapist, in love with the Countess. Even in Rossini’s fastest passages, she deploys her warm mezzo-soprano voice with assured skill.
Bachtrack
bachtrack.com
As a queer, modernised Isolier, Hanna Hipp becomes the absolute highlight: not a single comic moment is lost, and her nuanced, uproariously funny performance elevates the comedy to screwball level.
The Spinoff
thespinoff.co.nz
Royal Concert Hall Glasgow – Strauss Collection – COMPOSER / ARIADNE / OCTAVIAN
Hanna Hipp stands out and shines in the role of the Composer; subtly and skillfully sung, her wonderful tone blends perfectly with Strauss’s music.
Glasgow Theatre Blog
glasgowtheatreblog.com
Hanna Hipp’s mezzo-soprano lent emotional depth to the Composer (Ariadne) and Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier); her intensity was one of the evening’s highlights.
The QR
theqr.co.uk
Pacific Opera Victoria – Ainadamar – LORCA
Hanna Hipp’s Lorca was a trouser role of real weight, recalling Handelian heroes. She did not play a boy like Cherubino, but rather a romantic lead of striking presence, fully the equal of her stage partner.
British Theatre Guide
britishtheatreguide.info
New Zealand Opera – Così fan tutte – DORABELLA
Emma Pearson and Hanna Hipp formed a delightful pair of sisters, both vocally and dramatically. As Dorabella, Hipp’s voluminous, warm mezzo-soprano created both an ideal contrast and a piquant connection to her partner’s bright soprano. Moving between exaggerated operatic tragedy and coquettish lightness, she shaped the character with uproarious intensity and surprising emotional depth.
Bachtrack
bachtrack.com
Grand Theatre Leeds – Ariadne auf Naxos – COMPOSER
Hanna Hipp was a wonderful Composer — passionate, intense, and introspective. Her magnificent monologues in the Prologue were a highlight, and in her encounter with Zerbinetta she embodied a fascinating romantic heroine with powerful stage presence.
Opera Today
operatoday.com
 
 
ON STAGE
Norwich Theatre – Trouble in Tahiti – DINAH
© Genevieve Girling
 
New Zealand Opera – Cosi fan tutte – DORABELLA
© Jinki Cabronero
 
New Zealand Opera – Le Comte Ory – ISOLIER
© Lewis Ferris
 
New Zealand Opera – Le Comte Ory – ISOLIER
© Lewis Ferris
 
The Royal Opera House London – Figaros Hochzeit – CHERUBINO
© Clive Barda