FLORA HAWK
SOPRANO
BIOGRAPHY
Soprano Flora Hawk has been hailed as “vocal standout” by Opera News and lauded for her “richly balanced” voice by Opera Wire. The recent 2023-2024 saw her as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Rapides Symphony, her role and company début as Johanna in Sweeney Todd with Dayton Opera, her Portland Opera début as Peter in The Snowy Day, and a return to Knoxville Opera in the title role of Viardot’s Cendrillon. Additional recent engagements include Musetta in La bohème with Nashville Opera and Pensacola Opera, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with Knoxville Opera, Dayo in Cook Shack with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and a company début as Ninette in The Love for Three Oranges with Des Moines Metro Opera.
In the upcoming 2024-2025 season Flora has the honor of appearing as Mildred Jeter Loving in the highly anticipated world premiere of Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia with Virginia Opera, and will make her Minnesota Opera début as Peter in The Snowy Day. Ms. Hawk was seen as Peter in the world premiere of The Snowy Day at Houston Grand Opera. Additional highlights include Amelia in the world premiere of Quamino’s Map with Chicago Opera Theater, and Poppea in Agrippina with Florida Grand Opera, her return to Kentucky Opera as Euridice in Orfeo and performances of excerpts of The Snowy Day in concert with New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
She completed her residency with Kentucky Opera's Barbara and Halsey Sandford Studio Artist Program where she was originally scheduled to perform Musetta in La bohème, Sandman in Hansel and Gretel, and Euridice in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, but due to Covid-19 she instead appeared in multiple innovative productions with the company. Additionally, she performed Josephine in H.M.S Pinafore with Pensacola Opera, Sally in the premiere of Stone Soup with Fort Worth Opera, and leading role of Sara in the premiere of We Wear the Sea Like a Coat with Opera Ithaca. She was a returning artist with Shreveport Opera for the where she sang Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and Antonia in Man of La Mancha. She was engaged as a returning artist with Opera Saratoga for their 2020 summer season where she would have performed Winnie in Sky on Swings and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, but due to Covid-19, these productions were to be scheduled for a later date.
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CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"... charismatic confidence…” – Music City Review
La bohème – ". . . the fetching opportunist Musetta (Flora Hawk, Soprano). Hawk’s second act waltz, “Quando me’n vo’” bristled with more than enough charismatic confidence and passion of youth to win Marcello’s heart…again and make her stand out from a huge stage chock full of people."
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"... a bright soprano sound…” – South Florida Classical Review
Agrippina – “Feigning grief and friendship, Lyons effectively played off the Poppea of Flora Hawk. A charming soubrette, Hawk possesses a bright soprano sound. . . She deftly traced Poppea’s vengeance aria when she thinks her beloved Ottone has been unfaithful and spun roulades with grace at their reconciliation. Hawk also evidenced fine comedic skills at Poppea’s mock flirtatious dalliances with three would-be suitors.”
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"... delightful..." – Opera News
Quamino’s Map – “Flora Hawk brought a brightly textured, pealing soprano to Amelia, and proved herself a delightful actress."
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"... Hawk’s Euridice was sumptuous and buttery..." – Arts-Louisville.com
Orfeo ed Euridice – “Flora Hawk’s Euridice was sumptuous and buttery. . . her interactions with Catherine Martin’s Orfeo were of storybook quality.”