Hailed a "Standout” by Ted Medrek of the Boston Herald for her performance of Antonia in "Les Contes d'Hoffmann”, Meredith Hansen has scored many recent successes with notable competitions, both domestically and internationally. In addition to receiving Grant support from the prestigious Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition, she recently received the honor of being chosen for the Final Rounds of The 45th Annual Francisco Viñas Singing Contestin Barcelona, Spain. Ms. Hansen was also named First Place Winner in both the Charles Lynam Competition and the Violetta DuPont Vocal Competition as well as both First Place Winner and Audience Favorite in the Opera Birmingham Competition. Ms. Hansen has scored other successes in competitions including Third Place in The New Jersey Verismo Opera Competition, and Honorable Mention in the Irma Cooper Opera Columbus International Vocal Competition. She has also been named a Finalist in competitions such as The Classical Singer Competition Emerging Professional Division (prompting one judge to name her "Someone to keep an eye on”). Ms Hansen has also been honored as a Regional Semi-Finalist, District Winner and Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Recent career highlights include Gilda with the Newton Symphony Orchestra, and Rosalinda with Opera by the Bay.
For her November 2008 performance of Rossini's Petit Messe Solennelle, Matthew Guerrieri of the Boston Globe offered the following praise:
|
"Soprano Meredith Hansen sang the surprisingly sweet "Crucifixus" with a creamy tone and soared in the "O salutaris hostia."" |
Other highlights of the 2008/2009 season included the role of Miss Silverpeal in Mozart's "The Impresario” with MetroWest Opera, a concert of duets and arias with Boston Lyric Opera and the Landmarks Orchestra, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the Quincy Choral Society, and Verdi's Requiem with the Paul Madore Chorale.
Ms. Hansen's 2009/2010 season opens with a repeat engagement for the Boston Lyric Opera and Landmarks Orchestra in a concert of arias and ensembles to preview the Boston Lyric 2009/2010 season. The Johnstown Symphony Orchestra Opera Gala follows, and the season continues with her Mainstage Debut as Frasquita in Carmen with Boston Lyric Opera (under the baton of Keith Lockhart). She will also perform Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem with Plymouth Philharmonic in March 2010.