Hello 2025!
2024 was a year of transformation. What will the New Year bring?
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are enjoying a positive start to 2025. My year is starting with a cold, (my first since January 2024!), so I’m writing you in a DayQuil-fueled state of bonhomie…
In hindsight, 2024 was a year of great transformation for me. In many ways, I closed out the year feeling happier and more fulfilled than I can remember. It looks like 2025 will bring even more change and opportunities for creative exploration, and for that, I am very, very grateful!
I recently wrote about one highlight from 2024: my experience singing Maria Maddalena in Haymarket Opera’s production of Handel’s La Resurrezione. It was fun to reflect on the process for the newly-created Haymarket Review! Check it out:
After a remarkably busy fall that included lots of travel, debuts, an album recording, and many, many concerts, I spent the holidays back home in Missouri with my family. Amid lots of cooking, catching up, and a re-watch of Meet Me in St. Louis (a personal favorite - Tootie forever <3), my sisters and I made a pilgrimage to St. Joe Boot, where I picked up a *rather exuberant* new pair of cowboy boots…
One night, my family indulged in an occult party game: tarot readings for all using a deck Mom found while cleaning out my childhood bedroom. These days, I’m not much of a “woo-woo” gal, but I drew a really auspicious card for 2025: The World. The card symbolizes a big new beginning, unity, balance, success, and fulfillment. Not bad, eh?
While I’m not sure how much naked cloud dancing is in store for me in the New Year, here’s what I do know: 2025 will bring a lot of big singing and exciting collaborations. I can’t share everything right now, but here’s a quick look at some of the things I’m looking forward to!
A few exciting 2025 singing plans:
I’ll perform 6 (SIX!!!) opera roles in 2025 (this is a huge milestone for me - by far the most opera I’ve gotten to do in a calendar year.)
A return to Boston Early Music Festival to perform a lead role in the centerpiece opera, Octavia. (I’ll sing Livia, an ingenue trapped in a love triangle with a tenor and countertenor… hooo hmm, who should I choose?!)
This spring, I’ll sing 3 recitals right here in Chicago with some of my dearest collaborators and friends. I’m especially excited to share that pianist Madeline Slettedahl and violinist Shelby Yamin are coming to town to perform a really special program with me on March 14th at St. Chrysostom’s Church. Please mark your calendars for that - more details coming soon!!
Revisiting a favorite role: In 2024, I sang my first Dido and in 2025, I’ll sing the role again! In my book, Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas is the perfect opera. Really looking forward to performing it with Bella Voce the first week of May!
Dragon rides again: I’m thrilled that after stepping in to sing Mauxalinda in BEMF’s 2023 production of The Dragon of Wantley, I’ll be joining the cast again for a European tour and to record the album (my first with the company!) The trip will include a performance in Stockholm, a city I fell in love with last summer…
This fall I’ll sing different roles in two different musical tellings of the Orfeo myth, including a very significant role and solo debut… I can’t wait to tell you when the time comes! :)
While the full details of my next season are still taking shape, I’m tremendously excited for all the gigs on my books so far. There’s a big churn of elation and uncertainty that goes with managing my own singing career, (I don’t have an agent ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) but I’m very proud of my steady, organic growth these past few seasons. 2025 is a watershed moment for me, with more high-profile engagements and back-to-back gigs than I’ve ever had before. I’m feeling ready to rise to the challenges that come with working more consistently. I am tremendously lucky for each and every opportunity to sing and share the music I love so much.
Thanks so much for reading my little newsletter. Please do stay in touch!
Leaving you with a sunny, optimistic aria by Handel that I recorded for my debut solo album in October with Les Délices. Hope you enjoy!
Happy New Year,
Hannah De Priest
Hi Hannah, we will be in Chicago in March seeing the CSO and I would like to coordinate a time to see one of your concerts. Would you send me the dates/places to see if that is possible? Many thanks and many blessings in 2025! Carol Mullikin, Wichita, KS