The Canadian musician has shown a profound commitment to the music of our time and has given the world première performances of over 85 new creations. Hannigan has collaborated extensively with composers including Boulez, Zorn, Dutilleux, Ligeti, Stockhausen, Sciarrino, Barry, Dusapin, Dean, Benjamin and Abrahamsen. On record, Barbara Hannigan’s fruitful relationship with Alpha Classics began in 2017 with the release of Crazy Girl Crazy, which won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal album, among other awards including an Edison (Holland) and a Juno (Canada). Three critically-acclaimed recordings followed: Vienna: fin de siècle with pianist Reinbert de Leeuw, and two collaborations with Ludwig Orchestra:La Passione featuring works by Nono, Haydn and Grisey and Dance With Me. Hannigan’s fifth recording for Alpha Classics, Sehnsucht (Live in Rotterdam), was released in October 2022 and saw the soprano return to the Viennese fin-de-siècle period in a programme of Berg and Mahler in arrangements for chamber ensemble.

Barbara is in great demand as conductor and appears regularly with orchestras including Munich Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, London Symphony, Gothenburg Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Santa Cecilia, and the Cleveland Orchestra.

In 2022, Barbara Hannigan received France’s Officier des Arts et des Lettres distinction and was named Gramophone Magazine’s 2022 Artist of the Year.