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
Since the 2019/20 season, Nina van Essen has been a member of Staatsoper Hannover, where her repertoire includes 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.
In 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 the Madrigal Singer in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut at Dutch National Opera. In 2017, she sang Hänsel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel at Amsterdam’s Grachtenfestival and 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, Lydia Steier and Elisabeth Stöppler.
As a concert soloist, Nina van Essen’s 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’ Christmas Oratorio. She has performed under the baton of conductors such as Mark Elder, Hartmut Haenchen, Antony Hermus, Alexander Joel, Reinbert de Leeuw, Andrea Quinn and Servaas Schreuders and with orchestras including Het Residentie Orkest, Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, Philharmonie Zuidnederland and Radio Filharmonisch Orkest.
This biography is for information only and should not be reproduced. © Artistainternational, January 2022.
