Barbara Hannigan becomes first ever LSO associate artist

The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) has announced the appointment of Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan to the newly created role of associate artist.

The LSO describes associate artists as ‘musicians with distinct influences, quality and style that add diversity and richness to the LSO’. In this role, Hannigan will have the opportunity to create her own programmes with the orchestra as well as to contribute to repertoire choices across each season.

Hannigan said: ‘I am thrilled to accept this appointment, developing and performing beautiful and fascinating programmes with my colleagues at the LSO. This collaboration gives me a lot of energy and inspiration.’

Hannigan will hold the role for a period of 3 years during which she will be resident for LSO concerts in the Barbican and work internationally with the orchestra. Alongside this, she will also continue her position as principal guest conductor with Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and artist in residence with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and the Spoleto 2022 Festival dei Due Mondi.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, Hannigan frequently champions new music, giving world premieres of over 85 new works. In May she will sing the world premiere of a new work by Zosha di Castri with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Over the last two years Hannigan has performed across Europe with orchestras including the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony and the Munich Philharmonic. She celebrated her 50^th birthday in May of last year by conducting the Ludwig Orchestra at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

Hannigan created the mentoring initiative Equilibrium Young Artists in 2017, Momentum: our Future Now in 2020 to support young musicians. She was awarded the Dresdener Musikfestspiele Glashütte Award in 2020, and the Léonie Sonning Music Prize in 2021.

Kathryn McDowell, LSO managing director said: ‘Barbara Hannigan is a unique artist in her ability to combine conducting and singing, she is supremely gifted in both disciplines, and at the peak of her powers. Already in her performances with LSO over the last few years, she has introduced players and audiences to new works that lend themselves to her special talents.’

You can find out more about the London Symphony Orchestra here.

You can find out more about Barbara Hannigan here.