Songs of heaven and earth — Barbara Hannigan + Bertrand Chamayou

Enchanting evocations of Finnish goddesses

Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan has increasingly made her mark as a conductor in recent years, but her deepest passion remains the art song. And particularly, lieder that are rarely performed by others. In this rare song recital with master pianist Bertrand Chamayou, she will perform John Zorn’s cycle, Jumalattaret. Hannigan completely masters this cycle, that was long considered unsingable and is filled with references to Finnish goddesses. An enchanting experience.

‘Hannigan is one of those rare performers whose presence fuses so completely with the music that, while she’s onstage, hers seems the only possible interpretation’, wrote New York Magazine. And that’s spot on. Whether she sings Messiaen’s Chants de terre et de ciel, or Zorn’s masterpiece, Barbara Hannigan delivers the story as it is supposed to sound.

“An intensely moving recital” (The New York Times)
“Sumptuous feast of a recital” (Musical America)
★★★★★ “I guarantee it is the [concert program] that will remain in my mind the longest“ (Cameron Kelsall, Bachtrack)

In memory of Pierre Audi (1957–2025)
Barbara Hannigan and Bertrand Chamayou would like to dedicate this evening's recital to the memory of the visionary artistic director Pierre Audi, who passed away in May 2025. Audi had had brought both of tonight's performers (including this specific repertoire) to the Aix en Provence Festival as well as to the Park Avenue Armory in New York. Hannigan worked with Audi on various performances and productions for over 25 years, and is especially grateful to him for engaging her for her debut at the Netherlands Opera in 1999, at the moment that she had just finished her studies in the Netherlands.