B I O G R A P H Y
Praised for the “special, silvery beauty and expressiveness” of her singing (Calgary Herald), soprano Hannah Pagenkopf has been featured extensively as a soloist and performer in Calgary and abroad. She has appeared with several orchestras including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, and most recently with Alberta’s new Baroque chamber orchestra Rosa Barocca in a period performance of J.S. Bach’s Magnificat.
In addition to her role as soprano section principal of the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, Hannah appears with a variety of choirs and musical organizations including Luminous Voices, Early Music Voices, Cowtown Opera, Mountain View Festival of Song and Chamber Music, the Calgary Bach Society and the Pro Arts Society, among others. Other highlights include two solo recitals in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, participating in the Neil Semer Vocal Institute in Germany, and performing Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate with the CPO as a finalist in the RBC Concerto Competition at the University of Calgary, from which she holds a degree in Linguistics.
R E V I E W S
“Ola Gjeilo’s Tundra, new to perhaps almost everyone, is a Nordic mood piece based in Philip Glass-like minimalism accompaniment with piano and strings; it also has an attractive melodic element. The piece also contains some rapturous passages for solo soprano, which were performed with refinement and taste by Hanna Pagenkopf, the soprano section leader of the CPO Chorus. Expertly written and elegantly performed, it made an excellent effect.”
Calgary Herald, Dec. 2018
“The moment everyone was waiting for was, of course, the Fauré Requiem. One of the most melodious and richly expressive choral works of the great tradition, it made the impact expected, especially in the beauty and assurance of the choral singing.
The solo movements were sung by soprano Hannah Pagenkopf and Nicholas Allen, both members of Luminous Voices. Both these singers are young and have youthful voices, but they were fully equal to the challenge of their parts, especially Pagenkopf who is quite evidently making the transition from “promising young singer” to “seasoned professional.” Pagenkopf’s light, ethereal soprano was perfect for this most heavenly moment in the score.“
Calgary Herald, May 2018
“The choir, composed of singers most with solo capacity, was fully equal to Bach’s demanding writing. The choir was able to produce clear runs in the fast passages and strongly projected drama in the chordal writing — all with a fine understanding of the articulation required by the Baroque style. Members of the choir sang the short solos interspersed in this work — too many to mention individually.However, the soprano work of Hannah Pagenkopf needs to be singled out for its special, silvery beauty and expressiveness — singing that reminded me of a young Emma Kirkby. […]
The concert also included a performance of Bach’s Cantata No. 106, a chamber-sized piece performed with smaller forces, including a choir of just eight singers. Less overtly impressive as music, it nevertheless is a real charmer as a work (despite being a funeral cantata). The performance was, if anything, slightly better than the Magnificat, with excellent recorder playing and once again exemplary solo singing from Pagenkopf and Fast.”
Calgary Herald, Apr. 2018
“The concert ended on an uplifting note with From Heaven Distilled a Clemency by English composer Tarik O-Regan, a joyful piece about the end of war, and embracing a variety of religious and cultural traditions in the text. Rhythmic and energized, it received a strongly characterized performance by the choir. Hannah Pagenkopf provided the attractively sung solo in the middle of the movement.”
Calgary Herald, Oct. 2017
CPO Presents: Bach@Knox Baroque Festival
“The Festival’s first concert, conducted by Timothy Shantz was called Inspired by Bach and consisted of music that in some way relates to the Bach tradition. Notably this included the Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline by Handel, a 45-minute cantata rarely heard these days. Here the CPO chorus showed its fine calibre as an ensemble, with well-sung solo spots by soprano Hannah Pagenkopf, alto Aoife Donnelly, tenor Oliver Munar, and bass Roderick Bryce. … Rounding out the concert was the best-performed work of the evening—the Victorian chestnut, Hear My Prayer by Mendelssohn. Hannah Pagenkopf was the soprano soloist in what must be her first fully professional engagement with a major orchestra. Wonderfully clear and expressive in her singing, with a full sensitivity to the words and style, this was an impressive debut and, one hopes, of further opportunities in the future.”
Calgary Herald, May 2016
“While the entire production was a delight to experience, there were seven small spotlights that shone with wattage that gave them as much presence on the stage as the larger voices around them. […]These seven gifted young performers were seamless, strong and sounded wonderful. Pagenkopf, the eldest of the children and already possessing a voice more powerful than you might expect, has quite a celebrated and victorious path so far, and one can only assume that her Von Trapp siblings could aspire to similar heights.”
YYC Earbender, Mar. 2014
C A L E N D A R – 2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9
M A R
24
Soloist, Crucifixus: Sacred Choral Works by Lotti & Bach
Calgary Bach Choir & Orchestra
Knox United Church, Calgary
M A R
29-30
Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary
A P R
19
Soloist, J.S. Bach: St. John Passion
Luminous Voices & Rosa Barocca
Bella Concert Hall, Calgary
M A Y
3
Soloist, Recital (with alto Celia Lee)
Knox Presbyterian Red Carpet Series
Knox Presbyterian Church, Calgary
M A Y
5
Soloist, Monteverdi Vespers of 1610
Early Music Voices
Christ Church Elbow Park, Calgary
M A Y
17-19
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary
M A Y
24
Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary
M A Y
25
Bach@Knox: Brandenburg 4
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
Knox United Church, Calgary
P A S T E V E N T S – 2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9
F E B
24
Soloist, ‘Terpsichore’
String Theory Music Collective
St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Calgary
M A Y
17-19
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary
M A Y
25
Bach@Knox: Brandenburg 4
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
Knox United Church, Calgary
S E N I O R O U T R E A C H
With a degree in Linguistics, Hannah is inspired by the diversity of backgrounds and languages among Calgary’s senior population. She speaks fluent Spanish and German, and strives to include music from a wide variety of cultures and languages tailored to her audiences.
Hannah also performs at special events, funerals, weddings, etc. in a variety of styles including classical, musical theatre, and folk. For more information about rates and availability, please contact Hannah at hpsoprano@gmail.com.
