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Nazan Fikret - Soprano

Biography

Nazan Fikret was born in the UK of Turkish and Irish parents. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Penelope Mackay and Yvonne Kenny. Nazan is a 2015 Making Music AYCA Winner and recipient of the 2015/16 International Opera Awards Bursary.

Highlights in recent seasons include Fiordiligi Così fan tutte (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / European Opera Centre), How the Whale Became (Julian Philips) at the Linbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Governess The Turn of the Screw in Norfolk and contemporary opera scenes for Aldeburgh Music’s Jerwood Scheme. Additionally, Nazan had covered the Queen of the Night The Magic Flute and Wendy in the UK première of Peter Pan by Richard Ayres, both for Welsh National Opera.

Nazan made her operatic début at the age of thirteen singing Flora The Turn of the Screw in Elijah Moshinsky’s production at Wilton’s Music Hall. She went on to sing the role in Aix-en-Provence (Luc Bondy / Daniel Harding), which subsequently toured to La Monnaie, Le Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Theater an der Wien and Edinburgh Festival King’s Theatre, in Stephen Langridge’s production for the Nederlandse Reisopera, and while a student at the GSMD made her debuts in the same role at English National Opera and at the Teatro Real in David McVicar’s production.

Since graduating from the GSMD her operatic roles include Diane Disney The Perfect American by Philip Glass in the world première at the Teatro Real (subsequently recorded for DVD) and for English National Opera; Ninetta La Périchole (Garsington Opera); Madame Herz The Impresario (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Queen of the Night The Magic Flute (Wexford Festival Opera); ENO Baylis Opera Squad, and Governess The Turn of the Screw (Seastar Opera).

Nazan has appeared on BBC Radio 3’s In-Tune in The Lads in their Hundreds; in concert with pianist Iain Burnside; sang the soprano solo for the Turkish Hymn (Arditi) for the Turkish Presidential visit to London and performed Walton songs at the City of London Festival. Her concert appearances include Britten The Company of Heaven for Canterbury Choral Society and Poulenc Gloria for Nottingham Choral Trust. She has recorded Second Boy The Magic Flute for Opera in English / Chandos conducted by the late Sir Charles Mackerras.

In the current season Nazan returns to Welsh National Opera to cover the role of Angelica Figaro gets a Divorce by Elena Langer and performs Karolka Jenůfa for Longborough Festival Opera and Judge Hogg Why should I give up my fun? by Susie Self at the Musictheatertage Festival, Vienna.

updated May 2016

Click player for segments of performances of Nazan.

www.nazanfikret.com

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