Displaying a passion for cooking at an early age, Hanlee, a South African, is fascinated by spices and flavours from Italy and use these flavours to develop her own individual culinary style. Now recognized as one of Sunninghill's best known restaurant 'celebrities', Hanlee is renowned for her warm and outgoing personality, and is a dear friend to many. Her infectious laugh lights up any room and being a goodhearted person, she rarely meets a stranger. When you say, 'Tequila', she will gladly join you for a shot.
Her love for music got her to perform in some of the world's best theatre shows and opera productions.
She is a soprano and coloratura with immense international experience and acclaim. She started her singing career under the well-known soprano, Dr. Nellie du Toit. Early achievements include winning a study bursary in 1986 from the "Friends of the Cape Town Opera", to commence her Performance Diploma at the University of Cape Town under Prof. Angelo Gobbato. In 1989, she received the Wooltru Bursary and performed 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 Entfuhrung aus dem Serail" for the Roodepoort City Opera. In 1993, she sang Handel's "Messiah" with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Reinhard Schwarts, and performed with tenor Deon van der Walt and the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gerhard Korsten. In the 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 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 Stellenbosch 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 Performer. In 1998, she reached the semi-finals in the Lucio Albanese International Singing Competition in New York.
In Italy she interpreted various roles, including Ghiandaia in "La Volpe Astuta" (Janacek) at Il Teatro La Fenice and Musetta in La Boheme (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 Malmo Opera.
In 2011, Hanlee was part of "Evita" at the Pieter Toerien Theatre, and was chosen to repeat the role of Carlotta for "The Phantom of the Opera". Hanlee's concenert and oratorio performances include Handels "Messiah", Vivaldi's "Laudate Pueri", Rossini's "Petite Messe Solennelle" and Mozart's "Esultate Jubilate" and "Voi avete un cor fedele (K.217)".
Hanlee regularly presents light classical musical evenings at Bosco Ristorante Italiano, with live performances by professional artists and special guests stars like André Schwartz, PJ Powers and Jonathan Roxmouth, to name a few. It's always advisable to book your table, as these shows sells out fast, so keep an eye on the Bosco Facebook page and the website for all the many exciting events throughout the year.
