Nicholas Burns

Countertenor

From Vancouver, countertenor Nicholas Burns has been described as possessing a “thrilling voice” that “caresses the ear with its velvet” and past performances have been described as a “revelation” (Opera Canada, le Devoir, Süddeutsche Zeitung). Recent performances include those with Les Arts Florissant, L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Tafelmusik, and the Carmel Bach Festival. At the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme, Nicholas performed Bach cantatas with Philippe Herreweghe. He has also appeared with the American Bach Soloists, BachFest Leipzig, JSB Ensemble Stuttgart, Early Music Vancouver, Arion Baroque Orchestra, The Theatre of Early Music, le Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, L’Harmonie des saisons, and I Musici. In 2023 Nicholas was a winner of  the New York Oratorio Society competition at Carnegie Hall, Les Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques, the Vancouver International Music Competition, and Edmonton Opera’s Rumbold Vocal Prize. On the opera stage, Nicholas has performed in numerous Handel operas including Cesare in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Bertarido in Rodelinda, Polinesso in Ariodante, and Lichas in Hercules. He also gave the world premiere of the opera L’Orangeraie by French composer Zad Moultaka.

Upcoming performances include engagements with Opera San Miguel de Allende, Arion Baroque Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Tafelmusik, and the Montréal Bach Festival. Aside from singing, Nicholas is an accomplished bagpiper, having won the World Pipe Band Championships in 2012. 

Media

"Nicholas Burns displays a rather lyrical countertenor tessitura, set off by very good articulations, enhanced by the clarity of his vowels and musicality. Dramatic intensity is also very much to the fore, as he distills variations of power into long phrases."

- Axel Driffort, Olyrix, August 30th 2023 (review in french)

Schedule

Handel's Messiah with L'Harmonie des Sasisons

Date: December 5, 2024
Time: December 5 @ Dominion Chalmers Ottawa, December 7 @ Abbaye de St. Benoit du Lac, December 7 @ Catholic Church of St. Alban's (VT), December 8 @ College Street Congregational Church, Burlington VT
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Handel's Messiah with the Vancouver Bach Choir

Date: December 14, 2024
Time: 19:30
Location: The Orpheum
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Handel's Messiah with The Toronto Symphony

Date: December 17, 2024
Time: December 17, 18, 20, 21, 22
Location: Roy Thomson Hall
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Tafelmusik - Choral Splendours: Bach & Zelenka

Date: March 28, 2025
Time: 20:00-22:00
Location: Trinity St. Paul's, Toronto
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The Muses Garden with Emma Kirkby and the Toronto Consort

Date: November 10, 2024
Time: 18:30
Location: Jeanne Lamon Hall at Trinity St. Paul's United Church
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The Choice of Hercules (Handel) with The Theatre of Early Music

Date: November 7, 2024
Time: 19:30
Location: Trinity St. Paul's United Church
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Bach Magnificat at the Burlington Baroque Festival

Date: September 29, 2024
Time: 16:00
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Acis and Galatea at the Burlington Baroque Festival

Date: September 27, 2024
Time: 19:30
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Monteverdi Vespers at Burlington Baroque Festival

Date: September 26, 2024
Time: 19:30
Location: The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington VT
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Splendeurs de Venise et Rome

Date: August 18, 2024
Time: 14:00
Location: Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac
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Splendeurs de Venise et Rome – 

Date: August 17, 2024
Time: 19:30
Location: Église St-Dominique de Québec, Québec
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Gabrieli et Carissimi with L'Harmonie des Saisons

Early Music Vancouver - BACH MOTETS: VANISH! SPIRITS OF GLOOM

Date: August 6, 2024
Time: 19:30-21:30
Location: Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver
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Early Music Vancouver: Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610

Date: August 1, 2024
Time: 19:30-21:30
Location: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
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Salt Spring Baroque: Henry Purcell (almost) in Love, a new drama

Date: June 22, 2024
Time: 19:00-20:45
Location: All Saints by-the-Sea Anglican Church 110 Park Drive, Salt Spring Island
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nick@nicholasburnscountertenor.com

© 2024 Nicholas Burns