David Hansen, countertenor, was born in Sydney, Australia. He studied singing with Andrew Dalton at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, later studying with James Bowman, David Harper, and Graham Pushee.
In the 2022/23 season, Hansen’s roles – to name just a few – include Smeaton in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie (Francesco Lanzillotta); Nerone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea with I Gemelli and Emiliano González Toro at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and under Jordi Savall at the Gran Teatre del Liceu.
Recent engagements include the title role in Handel’s Serse at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsrude; Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina in German and Russian theatres; and Vivaldi’s L’Olimpiade under Andrea Marcon at the Concertgebouw.
Hansen debuted in Europe in 2004 at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, shortly followed by his UK debut in concerts with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Emmanuelle Haïm), and the title role in Handel’s Fernando with Il Complesso Barocco with Alan Curtis.
He has performed in scores of other operatic engagements, including the title role in Handel’s Serse with Jean-Christophe Spinosi; Handel’s Giulio Cesare; Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo (Jacobs/Deutsche Staatsoper-Berlin); and the title role in Handel’s Semele; Bontempi’s Il Paride (Christina Pluhar/Innsbruck Festival of Early Music). He has worked with directors including Stefan Herheim, Calixto Bieito, Katie Michell, and Christof Loy. Concert highlights include Carmina Burana with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Sir Simon Rattle; and Handel’s Messiah with Fabio Biondi.
Hansen’s debut solo recording for Sony (dhm), ‘Rivals – Arias for Farinelli & Co.’ with Academia Montis Regalis and Alessandro De Marchi was released in August 2013 to critical acclaim. He has also featured on many other record releases.
