Nicholas Burns

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. 

"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)