Lillian Weber Hansen

Lilian Oda Theodora Weber Hansen (1911–1987) was a Danish operatic mezzo-soprano who from 1940 sang at the Royal Danish Theatre for 25 years. She is remembered above all for her talents as a dramatic actress, especially towards the end of her stage career when she was able to give full weight to roles of elderly women. She was admired as Gluck's Orpheus, Verdi's Ebola in Don Carlos and Wagner's Ortud in Lohengrin. In a lighter vein, she was repeatedly successful as Lille Forglemmigej in Den gode fregat Pinafore. Born on 27 January 1911 in Copenhagen, Lilian Weber Hansen was the daughter of Georg Richard Hansen (1880–1966) and Marry Vilhelmine Augusta née Jensen (1884–1964). In 1942, she married the French horn player Severin John Frans Ahlqvist (1907–1967). She received voice training from the Danish opera singer Valdemar Linke before entering the Royal Opera School. She later studied in Italy under the operatic soprano Maria Labia.In 1940, she made her début at the Royal Danish Theatre with a small paort in Ebbe Hamerik's Marie Grubbe. With her powerful mezzo voice, she was selected to sing Gluck's Orpheus but it was not until 1948 that she achieved real success as Eboli in Verdi's Don Carlos when she was able to display her dramatic talents to great effect. As a result of her tuition under Labia, she went on to earn admiration for her interpretation of Amneris in Aïda although there were indications she should refrain from forcing the higher notes. Other major parts included the title role in Carmen, Ortrud in Lohengrin and

Azucena in Il trovatore.From the early 1950s she was increasingly cast in comic parts such as Lady Billows in Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring and Zita in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. She particularly enjoyed playing Little Buttercup in Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore. In her later years, she was acclaimed for playing the roles of elderly women and nannies, including those in Eugene Onegin and Boris Godunov.Lilian Weber Hansen died in Gentofte on 20 November 1987.