Promotion 2010/2011

CARTENS Caroline

Soprano

Caroline Cartens is a Dutch soprano, specialised in opera and contemporary music. She was born in November 1979.

Caroline Cartens studied at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague with Gerda van Zelm and Barbara Pearson. After her graduation with honours (2004), she continued her studies at the Dutch National Opera Academy, where she graduated Cum Laude as a Master of Music (2006). After her studies she had lessons with Gemma Visser and Gerda van Zelm.

In 2009, she was awarded the  "Prix du CNIPAL" at the Concours International d'Opéra de Marseille (chaired by Rolando Villazon). She is a member of the CNIPAL for the 2010/2011 season.

In February 2011 she makes her official debut at De Nederlandse Opera (Dutch National Opera) in Amsterdam, as the Second Angel  in Peter-Jan Wageman's "Legende". Reinbert de Leeuw conducts and Marcel Sijm directs.

Caroline has performed roles like Juliette in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette (Opera Mosset, 2010); Contessa in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro (Barokopera Amsterdam, 2010); Lauretta in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi (Dutch National Opera Academy, 2006); Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni (Arezzo Ensemble, 2005); Hellena in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Dutch National Opera Academy, 2006); Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata (2008) and Hedwige in Offenbach's Robinson Crusoé (2009), both at the Resident Artist Programme of the'Nationale Reisopera'; Anna in Weill's Die Sieben Todsünden (De Ereprijs, 2004); Cathleen in Vaugn-Williams' Riders to the Sea (Drama Academy Amsterdam, 2005); Second woman, First and Second witch in Purcell's Dido and Aenaeas (Dutch National Opera Academy, 2006) and was understudy for Liù in Puccini's Turandot  at Dorset Opera (2007).

Cartens has sung world premières of several compositions and opera's. She created a main role in the Chiel Meijering opera called Alzheimer (Muziektheaterunie/ Mondriaan Kwartet, Juriaan Hempel, 2007). She performed the title role in De Dood van Poppaea (The Death of Poppaea) by Huba de Graaff (Productiehuis Rotterdam 2007/2008). She created 'Pooky' in the mini solo-opera "The Evolution", by Huba de Graaff (WilCo, 2008/2009).

Caroline created Janna in a new opera by Chiel Meijering, called "Grenspost Zinnenwald" and performed the World première of Boogloze Boogpees by the same composer (De Ereprijs, 2009/2010). She sang the Dutch première of Fremdkörper by Hans Koolmees (De Doelen Ensemble, 2009) and the Worldpremiere of Wanted : Ferne Geliebte by Giel Vleggaar (Asko Ensemble, Bas Wiegers, 2008).

In 2010 she created the parts of The Nature in Het vlot van de Medusa by Bruno Nelissen (Kameroperahuis Zwolle) ; Fadime 2 in Lege Wieg / Bos Besik by Seung-Ah Oh (Hollands Diep/VocaalLAB) ; The First Old Lady  in A Dog's Heart by Alexander Raskatov (De Nederlandse Opera), in this production she was also a member of the VocaalLAB; CEO in Inflatable Trust Inc. by Graham Flett (Fast Opera Productions). She performed Nederland Muziekland by Martijn Padding with Orchestra "De Ereprijs).

Furthermore Caroline performed the Chorphantasie by Beethoven, with the Limburgs Symfonie Orkest, with Ed Spanjaard conducting (2009). She was understudy for the Vier letzte Lieder by Strauss, at the Conservatory, conducted by Jac van Steen (2005). She performed the solo part in Brahm's Ein Deutsches Requiem (I Romantici, conducted by Chris Pouw, 2005) and performed Stravinskij's Les Noces with the Orchestra of the Royal Conservatoire, conducted by Béni Csillag (2009).

Together with harpist Astrid Haring she forms a duo, which focuses on contemporary Dutch music, opera and French mélodie