Critical Acclaim for Barbara Hannigan in Written on Skin

12 July 2012

Soprano Barbara Hannigan has received critical acclaim from publications around the world for her portrayal of Agnès in George Benjamin's opera Written on Skin 

Appearing in the work's world premiere at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence on 7 July, Hannigan's performance was described as "remarkable" by The Guardian's Andrew Clements, who went on to write: "Hannigan compellingly charts Agnès’s growing self-awareness, and wraps her voice ravishingly around Benjamin’s high-lying vocal lines.”

Shirley Apthorp, writing in the Financial Times, also commented on Hannigan's varied range  demonstrated in the challenging role: “Hannigan has all the sensual physicality you could dream of for the role. She can convey dangerously repressed passion and sing meltingly rich high notes at the same time; she makes us believe every second of her part.”

Judy Fayard agreed, writing in The Wall Street Journal: "Candian soprano Barbara hannigan gives a shattering, definitive performance as Agnès."

The high-profile performance saw Hannigan joined by a cast including Christopher Purves, Bejun Mehta and Allan Clayton with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra conducted by the composer.

For a selection of reviews, please click on the links below:

The Guardian

Neue Musik Zeitung

Bloomberg News

Deutschlandradio Kultur

France Today