Hannah De Priest, Soprano

Hannah De Priest is an emerging lyric soprano currently based in Chicago. She possesses an “agile, always easy” voice (L’Opera) especially well-suited to early music. This past season, she appeared onstage as Ïole, (Hercules), and Oberto, (Alcina), and as an “irresistible” Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. In June she made her Boston debut as a Young Artist in the Boston Early Music Festival’s production of André Campra’s Le Carnaval de Venise, performing as a member of the ensemble cast and covering the lead role of Isabelle.

An avid recitalist, Hannah collaborates regularly with her partner, pianist/conductor Michael Pecak. Recent performances included lesser-known works by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven with Michael’s replica Anton Walter Viennese fortepiano (ca. 1795) built by Chris Maene. Upcoming programs will center around French song cycles including Ariettes obliées by Debussy and Ravel’s Cinq Mélodies populaires grecques.

Hannah is equally enthusiastic about solo and ensemble work, and has also performed with some of the top North American early music choirs, including the esteemed Montréal-based Studio de musique ancienne Montréal, I Musici, Clavecin en Concert, Ensemble Caprice, as well as the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, and Chicago's Bella Voce.

In addition to freelancing as a soloist and chorister, Hannah is an active contributor to Schmopera, an opera industry blog for which she reviews the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She is also the General Manager of The Newberry Consort, Chicagoland's premiere early music ensemble.

A diehard devotee of French baroque music—and a long-time friend of Margaret and Nicolas—Hannah is thrilled to join L'Académie du Roi Soleil for these concerts of Couperin’s Leçons de ténèbres.

hannahdepriest.com