Lori Hultgren, soprano

Lori Hultgren studied voice at Indiana University, earning her Bachelor and Masters degrees and doing postgraduate work, and performing many leading opera and musical theatre roles. She began her professional career as a mezzo-soprano, singing such roles as Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte, Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier, the title role in Carmen, Maddalena in Rigoletto, and Giulietta in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. She made her soprano debut in the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos at the Peabody Conservatory, and reprised the role with the Britten-Pears program in Aldeburgh, England under the direction of Oliver von Dohnanyi and Colin Graham. Also at Aldeburgh, she sang the premiere of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, conducted by Simone Young. She gave a debut recital with pianist Graham Johnson at Wigmore Hall in London.

In concert and onstage, Ms. Hultgren has been praised by the Baltimore Sun as a young dramatic soprano whose “interpretive ardor is contagious.” In addition to Peabody and Britten-Pears, she has performed roles with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Nashville Opera, Chattanooga Opera, Baltimore Opera, Annapolis Opera, and Opera Vivente. In 2008, she sang the role of Edna in Opera Vivente’s American premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Tobias and the Angel, conducted by Jed Gaylin. She has been a featured soloist or recitalist with the Indianapolis Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Pueblo Symphony, Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra, Marquette Symphony, Columbia Symphony, Britten-Pears Orchestra, Greenwich Music Festival, and, closer to home, the Peabody Symphony, Music in the Great Hall, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, and Baltimore Masterworks Chorale. Ms. Hultgren’s awards include semi-finalist in the New England Regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition, second prize in the Annapolis Opera Competition, and first prize in the Sylvia Green Competition.

Ms. Hultgren’s recent concert appearances have included Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde and Kindertotenlieder, Ravel’s Sheherazade, and Britten’s War Requiem. She last appeared with the Hopkins Symphony in 2007 as soprano soloist in the 25th anniversary performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Also in 2007, she performed and recorded Mark Hardy’s Requiem with the Johns Hopkins Choral Society, Baltimore Masterworks Chorale, and HSO. In 2004 she joined HSO for Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs and Poulenc’s Gloria.

5 December 2009