News - Nicolas Testé

Nicolas Testé returns to Paris as Sarastro

News: Dec 30 2020

Update: Due to further COVID-19 restrictions, the performances of Die Zauberflöte have been cancelled. However, it will stream live on L’Opéra chez soi on January 22, and will be available on demand afterwards.

Premiering on February 3, Nicolas Testé stars as Sarastro in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the Opéra Bastille.

Robert Carsen’s elegant production of unspoilt simplicity leads the audience through the four seasons and invites them to reflect on life as Death becomes their reassuring and consoling “best friend”.

Cornelius Meister leads from the orchestra pit, and joining Mr. Testé on stage are Cyrille Dubois, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Alex Esposito, Florian Sempey, Mélissa Petit, Julie Fuchs, Christiane Karg, Sabine Devieilhe and Nina Minasyan.

Of his role debut, Forum Opéra stated: “Nicolas Testé’s abyssal low notes allow him to superbly inhabit Sarastro’s dark vocality, as impressive as an Assyrian statue.”

Royal Affairs in Paris

News: Dec 07 2020

UPDATE: The Opéra de Paris has announced that following the latest government announcements, all their activities are cancelled until at least January 7. Unfortunately, this concert is included.

On December 15, the last performance of the Royal Affairs tour takes place at the Philharmonie de Paris, with Diana Damrau, Nicolas Testé, and Ivan Repušić leading the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France. The program features music by Rossini, Gounod, Delibes, Tchaikovsky, Parashkev, Verdi, Donizetti and Bellini.

Combining arias and duets from 19th century French and Italian operas, from Mary Stuart to Philip II, Norma and King Claudius, the German soprano and French bass sing the grandeur, the downfalls and the loneliness of sovereigns dear to the lyrical repertoire.

Royal Affairs LIVESTREAM

News: Nov 30 2020

Due to the COVID-19 prevention measures in Germany, the Royal Affairs tour that was planned for Munich, Baden-Baden, Hamburg and Dortmund has been cancelled, and in its place, Nicolas Testé and Diana Damrau, with the NDR Radiophilharmonie under the baton of Ivan Repušić, will perform in Hannover on December 3 at 8 pm Germany time, in a livestreamed performance. The program features music by Rossini, Gounod, Delibes, Tchaikovsky, Parashkev, Verdi, Donizetti and Bellini.

The concert will be broadcast on the NDR Radiophilharmonie website and on Facebook. It can also be heard live on the radio on NDR Kultur. The recording will not remain in the media library, and instead it will be shown on TV on January 10 and will then be available for 10 days as a video-on-demand.

The performance scheduled for December 15 in Paris is still be subject to change.

Nicolas Testé returns to Zurich as Giorgio Talbot

News: Aug 17 2020

After the long break due to the COVID-19 cancellations, Nicolas Testé returns to the operatic stage as Giorgio Talbot in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda at the Opernhaus Zürich, in the spectacular David Alden production. Diana Damrau stars as Maria Stuarda, Salome Jicia portrays her rival Elisabetta, and Paolo Fanale sings Roberto, Earl of Leicester. Enrique Mazzola leads the orchestra again.

Maria Stuarda opens September 27, with three additional performances on October 7, 11 and 15.

First performances of the Royal Affairs Tour

News: Aug 10 2020

Diana Damrau and Nicolas Testé appear in Sofia’s Bulgaria Hall on September 4 and 6 for their first two performances of the Royal Affairs Tour, featuring overtures, arias, and duets from operas featuring Kings and Queens. This tour was inspired by their latest album release, Tudor Queens.

Pavel Baleff will accompany them in their European tour, conducting the resident orchestras in each venue; in this case, the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.

After their performances in Maria Stuarda at the Opernhaus Zürich, they will resume the tour in Munich on November 30.

The Met Opera livestreams an all-star At-Home Gala

News: Apr 19 2020