Nina van Essen’s vibrant Prosperina cast much needed illumination into the Underworld. Opera Today, 3 May 2023
Since the 2019/20 season, Nina van Essen has been a member of Staatsoper Hannover, where her repertoire includes Kitchen Boy in Dvořák’s Rusalka, Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina, Dorabella in Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Rosina in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia and Il piacere in an adapted version of Handel’s La bellezza ravveduta nel trionfo del tempo e del disinganno. During the 2023/24 season, she will sing her first Bellini Romeo and Gluck Orfeo.
In 2022, she made her debut at Oper Leipzig, singing Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, a part she first performed at Amsterdam’s Grachtenfestival in 2017. 2019, the mezzo-soprano performed Gwendolen Fairfax in the Swiss premiere of Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest at Théâtre Equilibre Fribourg, followed by the French premiere at Théâtre de l’Athénée in Paris. During the 2016/17 season, the Dutch artist performed in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut at Dutch National Opera. In 2017, she made her debuts at Théâtre Equilibre Fribourg and Théâtre de L’Athénée in Paris singing Masha in Shostakovich’s Moscow Cheryomushki. In 2018, Nina van Essen performed several parts in Delius’ A Village Romeo and Juliet at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw; earlier that year she has sung the title role in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and Dorabella in Mozart’s Così fan tutte in The Netherlands. She worked with directors including Andrea Breth, Julien Chavaz, Nicola Hümpel, Immo Karaman, Béatrice Lachaussée, Lydia Steier, and Elisabeth Stöppler.
As a concert soloist, Nina van Essen’s concert repertoire includes Bach’s Matthäus-Passion, Bruckner’s Requiem, Franck’s Die sieben Worte Jesu am Kreuz, Mozart’s Mass in C, Palmeri’s Misa Buenos Aires, Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle and Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio.
She has performed under the baton of conductors including David Bates, Alessandro Bonato, Mark Elder, Harmut Haenchen, Antony Hermus, Alexander Joel, Reinbert de Leeuw, Andrea Quinn, Servaas Schreuders and Stephan Zilias and with orchestras including Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Het Residentie Orkest, L’Orchestra dell’Opera Carlo Felice Genova, Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, Philharmonie Zuidnederland, Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, and Toonkunstkoor Amsterdam.
First Prize + Best Femail Voice Award: Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino 2023
This biography is for information only and should not be reproduced. © Artistainternational, August 2023.
Bach: Matthäus-Passion: Erbarme dich….
Live recording 2023
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia/ Rosina: Una voce poco fa…
Live recording 2023
