Nikola, a versatile artist making waves in opera, recently starred as the titular role in Carmen with San Francisco Opera in their “Carmen Encounter” performance, a role Printz recently conquered to great acclaim with Festival Opera in 2023. SF Classicsl Voice said of the performance-“Printz has a rich, dark, and focused mezzo that carried the power of Carmen’s passion across the orchestra pit and into the heart. Their voice moves nimbly between moods — anger giving way to vulnerability, lyricism veering suddenly into mockery….Athletic and balletic, Printz brought to the role an accomplished language of strong and immediately readable dramatic gesture.” Nikola also sang and covered lead roles at San Francisco Opera during their two year tenure as an Adler Fellow.
Printz gained acclaim for Carmen and Dido with Opera San Jose in the 21-22 season, praised by Opera News for their “opulent tone and clear high register.” Nikola also created the role of Billie Jean King in Laura Karpman’s “Balls” (Opera Parallele.) Nikola won the 2021 Schwabacher debut recital award, impressing audiences and critics. They’ve also performed such lead roles as Oreste (Astiannate) Elle (La Voix Humaine), Orfeo, Lucretia, Rosina, Cherubino, and Isabella (L’italiana in Algeri.)
No stranger to the concert stage, Nikola recently sang the mezzo solo in De Falla’s El Sombrero tres Picos as part of SF Symphony’s Spanish Favorites concert. Nikola also sang the alto solo in Das Lied Von der Erde with both SF ballet and Vallejo Symphony. Nikola returned to the SF Symphony stage for the third year to perform their Trapeze variety act for the “Holidays Gaiety.”
Beyond opera, Nikola is a skilled aerialist, designing, choreographing and performing their acrobatic opera performances with both piano and orchestra. They also enjoy composing, playing piano and guitar, cycling, film photography, activism, and subverting gender norms. An advocate for arts accessibility, they’re currently learning American Sign Language.
Find out more at www.nikolaprintz.com.
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