Biography
Rebecca Nelsen returns to the Vienna Volksoper this season where she is one of their stars - and is heard as Pamina, Violetta, Hanna Glawari, interpretations of which she is well-known for. Last season the established soprano made a house debut at the Royal Danish Opera as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata, a role which she has now sung over 50 times and garnered much support from audiences and critics alike. In spring 2025 she will also make a debut at the Philharmonie de Paris with the Orchestre de Paris under the baton of Omer Meir Welber in performances of Viktor Ullman's Kaiser von Altantis as Bubikof (role debut).
This past summer she was the cover of Daniele De Niese at Glyndebourne Festival's new production of Lehar's The Merry Widow as Hanna Glawari.
In 2022 Rebecca made her debut as Prosperina in the one-woman show of Wolfgang Rihm with the Neue Oper Wien lead by Walter Kobera, also to rave reviews.
Following her 'barnstorming' debut at the Leipzig Opera as Lulu in 2018, Rebecca Nelsen sang the soprano role in Berg's Lulu Suite on a European tour with the London Philharmonia and renowned Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. Other plans for 2019/20 included her return to the Vienna Volksoper as Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Eurydike (Orpheus in der Unterwelt), Fiona MacClaren (Brigadoon), and Frauke-Beeke Hansen in the Austrian premiere of Marius Felix Lange's Das Gespenst von Canterville. In early 2020, she made her debut at the Grand Théâtre de Genève singing Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
In 2018/19, the American soprano returned to the Malmö Opera as Violetta in a new Olivier Py production of La traviata, as well as making her house debut at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo with Konstanze in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail. The season began with three roles at the Vienna Volksoper: Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Adele in Die Fledermaus, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. In February 2019 she sang the role of Clara in a concert performance of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and in June 2019 she appeared as Eurydice in the revival of Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, both at the Vienna Volksoper.
For her June 2018 Leipzig Opera house debut in the title role of Alban Berg's Lulu, Rebecca's performance was described by the German press as 'perfectly cast', 'terrific' and 'a barnstorming role debut, both as a singer and actress'. In 2017/18, she also earned rave reviews for her transformation into the iconic Marilyn Monroe for the European premiere of Gavin Bryars' Marilyn Forever at the Vienna Volksoper. Other Volksoper appearances last season included Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Laura in Der Bettelstudent, Valencienne in Die lustige Witwe, Annina Giró in Vivaldi - Die fünfte Jahreszeit, as well as a return to the roles of Pamina, Adele, Violetta Valéry and Susanna.
After her June 2016 Perm Opera house debut as Violetta in a La traviata conducted by Teodor Currentzis and staged by Robert Wilson, Rebecca began the 2016/17 season with performances of the same role at the Vienna Volksoper. In November 2016 she debuted with Malmö Opera, where she starred as Susanna in a new production of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro directed by Peter Stein. Appearances at the Vienna Volksoper during this season included her role debut as Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Annina Giró in a new production of Vivaldi - Die fünfte Jahreszeit, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Adele in Die Fledermaus, and Laura in Der Bettelstudent. She also appeared at the Vienna Musikverein as the soprano soloist in performances of Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Tonkünstler Orchestra.
In 2015/16 Rebecca made her Glyndebourne Festival debut as Blondchen in the touring production of Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail. During the holiday season, she appeared as the soprano soloist in New Year's Concerts at the Vienna Musikverein and other cities in Lower Austria with the Tonkünster Orchestra. Her appearances at the Vienna Volksoper included Pamina, Gretel, Adele, Violetta, Corilla (Viva la Mamma), Marzinah in a concert performance of Kismet, and Laura in a new production of Der Bettelstudent.
In summer 2013 the artist made her Salzburg Festival debut as Blonde in a new, live-TV production of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail in cooperation with Servus TV, released on DVD (Arthaus). In November 2014 at the Maison de Radio France in Paris, she performed in a special carte blanche concert for Peter Eötvös in his 70th birthday year with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Ensemble Intercontemporain.
After studies at Vienna's University of Music and the Performing Arts on a Fulbright scholarship, Texan soprano Rebecca Nelsen launched her career with critically acclaimed performances at the Neue Oper Wien, where she most recently sang the role of Eva in the world premiere of Peter Eötvös' Lilith - Paradise Reloaded in Vienna and at the Palace of the Arts in Budapest with a CD recording.
Repertoire
Opera/Operetta
Composer, Work
Composer
Opera/Operetta
Part
V. Ullmann, Der Kaiser von Atlantis
V. Ullmann
Der Kaiser von Atlantis
Bubikopf (not yet sung - VOP 2025)
A. Berg, Lulu
A. Berg
Lulu
Lulu
A. Berg, Wozzeck
A. Berg
Wozzeck
Marie*
E. d'Albert, Tiefland
E. d'Albert
Tiefland
Pepa
S. Barber, Antony and Cleopatra
S. Barber
Antony and Cleopatra
Cleopatra*
L. Bernstein, Trouble in Tahiti
L. Bernstein
Trouble in Tahiti
Dinah*
L. Bernstein, A Quiet Place
L. Bernstein
A Quiet Place
Dinah*
L. van Beethoven, Fidelio
L. van Beethoven
Fidelio
Marzelline
G. Bizet, Carmen
G. Bizet
Carmen
Micaëla
A. Borodin / R. Wright / G. Forrest, Kismet
A. Borodin / R. Wright / G. Forrest
Kismet
Marsinah
B. Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream
B. Britten
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Helena*
G. Brayrs, Marilyn Forever
G. Brayrs
Marilyn Forever
Marilyn Monroe
J. Casken, God's Liar
J. Casken
God's Liar
The Women
L. Cherubini, Medea
L. Cherubini
Medea
Dircé*
A. Copland, The tender land
A. Copland
The tender land
Laurie Moss*
G. Donizetti, Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (Viva la mamma)
G. Donizetti
Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (Viva la mamma)
Corilla Sartinecchi
P. Eötvös, Paradise Reloaded
P. Eötvös
Paradise Reloaded
Eve
P. Eötvös, Le Balcon
P. Eötvös
Le Balcon
Soprano soloist
L. Fall, Madame Pompadour
L. Fall
Madame Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour
C. Floyd, Susannah
C. Floyd
Susannah
Susannah*
G. Gershwin, Porgy and Bess
G. Gershwin
Porgy and Bess
Clara (konzertant)
Gilbert and Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance
Gilbert and Sullivan
The Pirates of Penzance
Mabel
G. F. Händel, Giulio Cesare
G. F. Händel
Giulio Cesare
Cleopatra*
G. F. Händel, Alcina
G. F. Händel
Alcina
Morgana*
G. F. Händel, Orlando
G. F. Händel
Orlando
Angelica
G. F. Händel, Orlando
G. F. Händel
Orlando
Eurilla
E. Humperdinck, Hänsel und Gretel
E. Humperdinck
Hänsel und Gretel
Gretel
P. Hindemith, Cardillac (Neufassung)
P. Hindemith
Cardillac (Neufassung)
Tochter
P. Hindemith, Cardillac (Neufassung)
P. Hindemith
Cardillac (Neufassung)
Dame*
L. Janáček, Das schlaue Füchslein
L. Janáček
Das schlaue Füchslein
Füchslein Schlaukopf*
L. Janáček, Věc Makropulos
L. Janáček
Věc Makropulos
Emilia*
E. Kálmán, Die Csárdásfürstin
E. Kálmán
Die Csárdásfürstin
Stasi
E. Kálmán, Die Csárdásfürstin
E. Kálmán
Die Csárdásfürstin
Sylva Varescu*
E. Kálmán, Gräfin Mariza
E. Kálmán
Gräfin Mariza
Gräfin Mariza*
E. Kálmán, Die Zirkusprinzessin
E. Kálmán
Die Zirkusprinzessin
Prinzessin Fedora Palinska
C. Kolonovits, Vivaldi, Die fünfte Jahreszeit
C. Kolonovits
Vivaldi, Die fünfte Jahreszeit
Annina Giró
E. W. Korngold, Die tote Stadt
E. W. Korngold
Die tote Stadt
Marietta*
E. Künneke, Der Vetter aus Dingsda
E. Künneke
Der Vetter aus Dingsda
Julia de Weert
F. Lehár, Die lustige Witwe
F. Lehár
Die lustige Witwe
Hanna Glawari
F. Lehár, Die lustige Witwe
F. Lehár
Die lustige Witwe
Valencienne
R. Leoncavallo, I Pagliacci
R. Leoncavallo
I Pagliacci
Nedda*
G. Ligeti, Le Grand Macabre
G. Ligeti
Le Grand Macabre
Amanda*
F. Loewe, Brigadoon
F. Loewe
Brigadoon
Fiona
A. Lortzing, Der Wildschütz
A. Lortzing
Der Wildschütz
Baronin von Freimann*
J. Massenet, Manon
J. Massenet
Manon
Manon*
J. S. Mayr, Fedra
J. S. Mayr
Fedra
Ippolito
G. C. Menotti, The Medium
G. C. Menotti
The Medium
Monica*
G. C. Menotti, Amahl and the Night Visitors
G. C. Menotti
Amahl and the Night Visitors
The Mother*
G. C. Menotti, The Telephone
G. C. Menotti
The Telephone
Lucy*
C. Millöcker, Der Bettelstudent
C. Millöcker
Der Bettelstudent
Laura
C. Millöcker, Die Dubarry
C. Millöcker
Die Dubarry
Marie Jeanne Bécu*
C. Millöcker, Gasparone
C. Millöcker
Gasparone
Carlotta*
D. S. Moore, The Ballad of Baby Doe
D. S. Moore
The Ballad of Baby Doe
Elizabeth-Baby Doe*
W. A. Mozart, Bastien und Bastienne
W. A. Mozart
Bastien und Bastienne
Bastienne*
W. A. Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro
W. A. Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro
Susanna
W. A. Mozart, La clemenza di Tito
W. A. Mozart
La clemenza di Tito
Vitellia*
W. A. Mozart, Così fan tutte
W. A. Mozart
Così fan tutte
Fiordiligi
W. A. Mozart, Così fan tutte
W. A. Mozart
Così fan tutte
Despina
W. A. Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail
W. A. Mozart
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Konstanze
W. A. Mozart, Don Giovanni
W. A. Mozart
Don Giovanni
Donna Anna*
W. A. Mozart, Don Giovanni
W. A. Mozart
Don Giovanni
Donna Elvira*
W. A. Mozart, La finta giardiniera
W. A. Mozart
La finta giardiniera
Arminia*
W. A. Mozart, Idomeneo
W. A. Mozart
Idomeneo
Ilia*
W. A. Mozart, Idomeneo
W. A. Mozart
Idomeneo
Elettra*
W. A. Mozart, Mitridate
W. A. Mozart
Mitridate
Aspasia*
W. A. Mozart, Il re pastore
W. A. Mozart
Il re pastore
Aminta*
W. A. Mozart, Der Schauspieldirektor
W. A. Mozart
Der Schauspieldirektor
Madame Silberklang*
W. A. Mozart, Die Zauberflöte
W. A. Mozart
Die Zauberflöte
Pamina
W. A. Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro
W. A. Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro
Contessa
W. A. Mozart, Zaide
W. A. Mozart
Zaide
Zaide*
O. Nicolai, Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
O. Nicolai
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
Frau Fluth*
O. Nicolai, Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
O. Nicolai
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
Anna Reich
J. Offenbach, Les Contes d'Hoffmann
J. Offenbach
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Antonia
J. Offenbach, Les Contes d'Hoffmann
J. Offenbach
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Olympia
J. Offenbach, Les Contes d'Hoffmann
J. Offenbach
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Giulietta*
J. Offenbach, Orpheus in der Unterwelt
J. Offenbach
Orpheus in der Unterwelt
Eurydice
C. Orff, Die Kluge
C. Orff
Die Kluge
Die Kluge Bauerntochter*
F. Poulenc, Dialogues des carmélites
F. Poulenc
Dialogues des carmélites
Blanche*
G. Puccini, La bohème
G. Puccini
La bohème
Mimi
G. Puccini, La bohème
G. Puccini
La bohème
Musetta
G. Puccini, Gianni Schicchi
G. Puccini
Gianni Schicchi
Lauretta
G. Puccini, La Rondine
G. Puccini
La Rondine
Lisette
W. Rihm, Proserpina
W. Rihm
Proserpina
Proserpina
G. Rossini, Il barbiere di Siviglia
G. Rossini
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Rosina
G. Rossini, Il turco in Italia
G. Rossini
Il turco in Italia
Fiorilla
G. Rossini, Il viaggio a Reims
G. Rossini
Il viaggio a Reims
Madame Cortese*
B. Smetana, Die verkaufte Braut
B. Smetana
Die verkaufte Braut
Mařenka
R. Strauss, Arabella
R. Strauss
Arabella
Zdenka*
R. Strauss, Arabella
R. Strauss
Arabella
Arabella*
R. Strauss, Daphne
R. Strauss
Daphne
Daphne*
R. Strauss, Intermezzo
R. Strauss
Intermezzo
Christine*
R. Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier
R. Strauss
Der Rosenkavalier
Sophie
R. Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier
R. Strauss
Der Rosenkavalier
Marschallin*
J. Strauss, Die Fledermaus
J. Strauss
Die Fledermaus
Rosalinde*
J. Strauss, Die Fledermaus
J. Strauss
Die Fledermaus
Adele*
J. Strauss, Eine Nacht in Venedig
J. Strauss
Eine Nacht in Venedig
Annina*
I. Stravinsky, The Rake's Progress
I. Stravinsky
The Rake's Progress
Anne Truelove*
M. Tippett, The Knot Garden
M. Tippett
The Knot Garden
Flora
F. von Suppé, Die schöne Galathée
F. von Suppé
Die schöne Galathée
Galathée*
G. Verdi, Un ballo in maschera
G. Verdi
Un ballo in maschera
Oscar*
G. Verdi, Don Carlo
G. Verdi
Don Carlo
Voce dal cielo*
G. Verdi, Falstaff
G. Verdi
Falstaff
Alice Ford
G. Verdi, Rigoletto
G. Verdi
Rigoletto
Gilda
G. Verdi, La traviata
G. Verdi
La traviata
Violetta
C. M. von Weber, Der Freischütz
C. M. von Weber
Der Freischütz
Agathe*
C. M. von Weber, Der Freischütz
C. M. von Weber
Der Freischütz
Ännchen
K. Weill, Dreigroschenoper
K. Weill
Dreigroschenoper
Polly Peachum*
K. Weill, Die sieben Todsünden
K. Weill
Die sieben Todsünden
Anna*
M. Wilson, The Unsinkable Molly Brown
M. Wilson
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Molly Brown
R. Strauss, Vier Lieder op. 27
R. Strauss
Vier Lieder op. 27
*not yet performed on stage
Oratorio
Composer, Work
Composer
Work
Part
J. S. Bach, Weihnachtsoratorium
J. S. Bach
Weihnachtsoratorium
Soprano soloist
J. S. Bach, Matthäuspassion
J. S. Bach
Matthäuspassion
Soprano soloist
J. S. Bach, Johannespassion
J. S. Bach
Johannespassion
Soprano soloist
G. F. Händel, Messiah
G. F. Händel
Messiah
Soprano soloist
G. F. Händel, Brockes Passion
G. F. Händel
Brockes Passion
Maria*
J. Haydn, Die Schöpfung
J. Haydn
Die Schöpfung
Soprano soloist
J. Haydn, Die Jahreszeiten
J. Haydn
Die Jahreszeiten
Soprano soloist
F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Elijah (Elias)
F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Elijah (Elias)
Soprano soloist
*not yet performed on stage
Concert and Lied
Composer, Work
Composer
Work
J. S. Bach, Magnificat
J. S. Bach
Magnificat
J. S. Bach, H-moll Messe
J. S. Bach
H-moll Messe
S. Barber, Knoxville: Summer of 1915
S. Barber
Knoxville: Summer of 1915
A. Berg, Lulu Suite
A. Berg
Lulu Suite
L. Bernstein, Mass
L. Bernstein
Mass
L. van Beethoven, Missa solemnis
L. van Beethoven
Missa solemnis
L. van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
L. van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9
J. Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem
J. Brahms
Ein deutsches Requiem
P. Eötvös, Octet Plus
P. Eötvös
Octet Plus
G. Mahler, Symphony No. 4
G. Mahler
Symphony No. 4
G. Mahler, Rückert Lieder
G. Mahler
Rückert Lieder
W. A. Mozart, C-moll Messe
W. A. Mozart
C-moll Messe
W. A. Mozart, Exsultate, jubilate
W. A. Mozart
Exsultate, jubilate
W. A. Mozart, Requiem
W. A. Mozart
Requiem
C. Orff, Carmina Burana
C. Orff
Carmina Burana
A. Schönberg, Pierrot lunaire
A. Schönberg
Pierrot lunaire
F. Schubert, Deutsche Messe
F. Schubert
Deutsche Messe
R. Strauss, Acht Gedichte - op. 10 Lieder
R. Strauss
Acht Gedichte - op. 10 Lieder
R. Strauss, Drei Lieder für hohe Stimme op. 29
R. Strauss
Drei Lieder für hohe Stimme op. 29
R. Strauss, Drei Gesänge älterer deutscher Dichter für hohe Stimme op. 43
R. Strauss
Drei Gesänge älterer deutscher Dichter für hohe Stimme op. 43
R. Strauss, Sechs Lieder op. 68
R. Strauss
Sechs Lieder op. 68
Contact
Sylvia Saavedra-Edelmann
Artist Manager
ssaaved@sonoartists.com
+43 (0) 650 552 4855
Samantha Farber
Founder and director