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The Dutch coloratura soprano, Elles Venhuizen, obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Singing from the ArtEZ Conservatorium Zwolle (2018-2022), where she studied with Claudia Patacca. During her studies there she won the audience award at the Prinses Christina Concours, performed Marie from Alban Berg's Wozzeck on Radio 4 during the Grachtenfestival and sang and played in George Frideric Handel's Giulio Cesare at the Nederlandse Reisopera (October 2021-February 2022). In addition to opera, she sang oratorio solos, including Camille Saint-Saëns' Oratorio de Noël, W.A. Mozart's Missa Brevis in B flat, Francesco Durante's Magnificat, Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria and J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion BWV 244. In the final year of her bachelor's degree, Elles studied in Italy for one semester, where she gave concerts in Rome and L'Aquila and simultaneously studied the role of Donna Anna. She was coached by renowned soprano Lenneke Ruiten, after which she graduated with a pocket version of W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni.
Elles Venhuizen is currently studying for her Master of Music degree with Selma Harkink at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (since September 2023). In the past year, she has sung Le Rossignol in Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortilèges conducted by Ed Spanjaard, and performed American and English songs at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. In March 2024, she performed the role of Bibi from Ellen Reid's p r i s m at the Concertgebouw, and in the summer of 2024 she sang the role of Blondchen at the Opera aan Zee festival. At the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, she is coached by Ira Siff, Roberta Alexander and Alexander Oliver, among others.
In addition to this final exam, Elles Venhuizen is actively creating her own performances together with mezzo-soprano Aaike Nortier (since 2022). With ‘Operaduo Ventier’ they bring opera and operetta to the stage for an audience that is not yet familiar with this music. For this they write their own texts and translations. In recent years, Operaduo Ventier has performed at theatre The Young Ones, Festival Kattegat and Pop-up Baroque. |
