“Nina van Essen, in what is, remarkably, her role debut as Rosina, makes the part sound as if it was written for her, with clarity, wit, lyricism and charm.“ Financial Times, 20 January 2020
Nina van Essen has 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 in 2019. In 2018, she performed the title role in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia at Dutch National Opera Academy, followed by Mercedes in Bizet’s Carmen at Bredeweg Festival and Dorabella in Mozart’s Così fan tutte at Muziekzomer Gelderland as well as several parts in Delius’ A Village Romeo and Juliet at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. Since the 2019/2020 season, she is a member of Staatsoper Hannover, where her repertoire includes Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Orlofsky in Strauß’ Die Fledermaus.
During the 2016/2017 season, the Netherlands mezzo-soprano performed Madrigalist in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut at Dutch National Opera in a production by Andrea Breth. In 2017, Nina van Essen has sung her first Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel at Muziekzomer Gelderland and Grachtenfestival Amsterdam and made her debuts at Théâtre Equilibre Fribourg and Théâtre de L’Athénée in Paris singing Masha in Shostakovich’s Moskwa, Tscheremuschki. In Hanover, her repertoire includes Mao’s 1st Secretary/Nancy Tang in Adam’s Nixon in China, Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Rosina in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Page in Strauss’ Salome, Orlofsky in Strauß’ Die Fledermaus.
As soloist, Nina van Essen performed with Krashna Musika under the baton of Ruben de Grauw, at Salone dell’Opera and performed at Concertgebouw, Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Tivoli Vredenburg dnd de Doelen . Her concert repertoire includes 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’ Oratorio de Noël.
Nina van Essen performed under the baton of conductors including Hartmut Haenchen, Antony Hermus, Alexander Joel, Reinbert de Leeuw, Sir Mark Elder, Andrea Quinn and Servaas Schreuders and was accompanied by Het Residentie Orkest, Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, philharmonie zuidnederland and Radio Filharmonisch Orkest.
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Audience Prize, Annett Concert Prize: 52e Internationaal Vocalisten Concours’s-Hertogenbosch 2018
