Tosca with New York City Opera
Alex Ross, New Yorker Magazine
However the productions turn out, it's satisfying to watch the progress of City Opera's singers, some of whom are still making their way through the early stages of an opera career. One is Carla Thelen Hanson, who had taken several years off to start a family. She came to the house last year as a cover singer, and got a quick promotion to Tosca: her dark-grained, strongly felt "Vissi d'Arte" sailed right up to the uppermost balcony, where I was sitting..

Jeremy Eichler, New York Times
Ms. Hanson made a strong debut as Tosca, by turns fiery and vulnerable, her voice agreeably dark in its middle range and sufficiently full on top.

Paul S. Foster, Memos from the World - artspass.com
Baritone Todd Thomas as Scarpia, and soprano Carla Thelen Hanson as Tosca are a matched pair riding at breakneck speed to their doom, both with voices that, were we ancient seers, we would say were gifts from the gods. You just can't get any better than these two artists. They thrust and parry as musical fencing masters. We listen spellbound to the clashing of their weapons - voices wielded by two great singers. Hanson is the only female in an all male cast, but no one takes an inch of her ground.

When Carla Thelen Hanson grips the steak knife, she is so convincing as the instrument of retribution for tyrants, that every hand in the audience joined hers. It became a conspiracy for a group murder.

Norma with Union Avenue Opera Theatre in St. Louis, MO
Sarah Bryan Miller, Post-Dispatch Classical Music Critic
The soprano in the title role has the lioness' share of the singing. Norma is a legendarily difficult role, intimidating both for its vocal requirements and for the long shadow of Maria Callas, still looming after half a century. Carla Thelen Hanson brought both vocal power and dramatic commitment to the priestess, for one of the best-sung, best-considered performances I've heard at Union Avenue.

KDHX review by Steve Callahan
The principal voices are all superb...Carla Thelen Hanson splendidly handles the enormously difficult role of Norma. Hers is a voice of immense power and clarity. ...instant leaps from piano passages to fortissimo outbursts and back.

Ariadne auf Naxos with Union Avenue Opera Theatre
Sarah Bryan Miller, Post-Dispatch
Hanson has a big voice with a wide range and a hint of steel, ... she was impressive.

Tosca with Union Avenue Opera Theatre
KWMU review by Joe Pollack
Carla Thelen Hanson is outstanding in the title role, strongest in her internal battle over whether or not to give herself to the villainous Baron Scarpia.

KDHX review by Robert Boyd
The principals in this production are impressively young, good-looking people with big voices and plenty of energy. In a role often filled by women distinguished only for their voices, Carla Thelen Hanson as Tosca is stunning both vocally and physically; her passionate energy brings the character vividly to life.