Hip Hop, Techno, R&B, Contemporary, Pop.
So many musical genres to choose from, but singer Suzan Hanson has found success professional opera singer that transcends theatre, drama, music, dance, and art.
“My parents were both in music as choral conductors, voice and piano teachers,” she says. “Being surrounded by music, I didn’t think opera was odd. It was the mix of theatre and music coming together. I always knew I would perform.”
Today, Hanson is an accomplished soprano known for her charismatic interpretations incorporating the multiple art forms that make opera so engaging.
This will be Hanson’s second appearance at the event.
“It is an impressive evening,” she says. “It’s a wonderful outdoor experience with the overall feeling of a very fun but sophisticated garden party. There is a good mix of beautiful and dramatic music and a festive vibe but also a sense of community. It’s very special."
Finding Her Calling
Like many kids, Hanson would write musicals and plays and conduct shows in her garage. In the fifth grade, Hanson wrote a play with the basic concept, “Don’t Do Drugs” that was adopted and performed by her grade school.
Her experiences, which included a fair amount of non-singing related gigs, gave her the ability to adapt to the many stressful situations that may arise in the arts.
Early Odd Jobs:
- A waitress.
- A foot model.
- A living statue for parties.
“I once was a ‘headed’ Venus De Milo and was painted like marble,” she says. “With these early experiences, you attain an ability to adjust and a willingness to make due as a performing artist. You do what it takes. I take that with me today. If something goes radically wrong on stage, I can keep going and figure it out. You draw from being that scrappy and resourceful young artist.”
An Enchanted Evening
OperaArts is a community philanthropic organization dedicated to promoting opera and sustaining it for future generations.
Hanson amplifies:
- “Opera adds a fuller musical experience and there is such a sense of fire at this particular event. The meal, the setting…it’s gorgeous.”
- “Opera as an art-form brings together every aspect of art, drama, music and marries it in a way that doesn’t really happen in other music forms.”
- “To hear what the human voice is capable of doing is just astounding. Singing outside is challenging because you don’t get the acoustical feedback that you get on stage, but it’s fun.”
Like what you're reading? Then "Like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter.