Hanlee Louw

Hanlee Louw is a South African coloratura soprano with immense international experience and acclaim. 

She started her singing career under the well-known soprano Dr. Nellie du Toit, and early achievements including winning a study bursary from the “Friends of the Cape Town Opera” in 1986, to commence her Performance diploma at the University of Cape Town under Prof. Angelo Gobbato; the Wooltru Bursary (1989) and performing as soloist with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra at the Cape Town Opera house in 1990.  In 1991 she made her Professional debut in the role of Blondchen in Mozart’s opera “Die Entführung aus dem Serail” for the Roodepoort City Opera, receiving great reviews, and in 1993 she sang Handel’s “Messiah” with The Cape Town Symphony  Orchestra conducted by Maestro Reinhard Schwarts, and performed with the tenor Deon van der Walt and the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gerhard Korsten.  In that same year she made her debut at the Cape Town Opera House in the role of Adele in Johann Strauss’ opera “Die Fledermaus”.

In 1994 she debuted the role of “The Queen of the Night” in Mozart’s opera “Die Zauberflote” at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch, and sang it again to great acclaim in 1995 at the Cape Town Opera House and again in 1996 at the Windhoek National Theatre in Namibia.  In 1996 she also sang the role of Mistress Ford in Nicolai’s opera the “Merry Wives of Windsor” at the Oude Libertas.  In 1997 she again returned to the Amphitheatre in Stellenbosh as Adele in Donizetti’s opera “L’Elisir d’Amore.”

In 1997 Hanlee relocated to Venice, Italy, to further her opera career and specialised in “Bel Canto” under the guidance of Prof. Alessandra Althoff Pugliese.  In 1998 she sang the role of Wogliinde in Oro del Reno (Wagner) in Graz,  Austria, and was awarded a scholarship by the Richard Wagner Association of Venice (L’ARWV) to attend the Bayreuth Festival in Germany as a Perfomer.  In 1998 she  reached the semi-finals in the Lucio Albanese International Singing Competion in New York.

In Italy she  interpreted various roles, including Ghiandaia in “La Volpe Astuta” (Janácek) at  Il Teatro La Fenice and Musetta in La Bohème (Puccini) at the Oderzo Festival in Treviso. In 2002 she sang Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini),  also in Oderzo.  In the same year Hanlee made her Viennese debut at the Wiener Kammeroper as “Marianna” in Tartuffe by Kirk Mechem.  Back in Venice,  she performed the role of Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore for Il Quartettopera produced respectively at the Palazzo Mocenigo,  Teatro dei Frari and Ca’rezzonico.

In 2004 she returned to South Africa to join The Phantom of the Opera, as the alternate  Opera Diva Carlotta Guidicelli, touring to Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei,  Hong Kong and Singapore.  In 2009 she was part of the Disney production “Beauty and the Beast”, and toured to Sweden with the Arts Cape production of “Show Boat”.  In 2010 she sang the role of the grieving mother in the Modern Opera “Dead Man Walking” by Jake Heggie,  in association with Sweden’s Malmö Opera.  In 2011 Hanlee was part of “Evita” at the Pieter Tourien Theatre, and was chosen to repeat the role of Carlotta for The Phantom of the Opera. 

Hanlee’s concert and oratorio performances includes Händel’s Messiah,  Vivaldi’s Laudate Pueri,  Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle and Mozart’s Esultate Jubilate and Voi avete un cor fedele.  (K.217)