The Dutch mezzo-soprano Olivia Vermeulen studied voice in Berlin at the Universität
der Künste under Julie Kaufmann. In 2007 she graduated with the mono-opera ‘La voix
humaine’ by Francis Poulenc, directed by Karoline Gruber. Olivia has participated
in masterclasses with Andreas Scholl, Thomas Quasthoff, René Jacobs, Wolfram Rieger,
Axel Bauni, Irwin Gage and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.
Whilst still a student, Olivia guested at various theatres including Stadttheater
Bielefeld, Theater Lübeck, Schlosstheater Schönbrunn in Vienna and at the Berliner
Festspiele. In 2006, the young mezzo-soprano sang the role of Ramiro in Mozart’s
La Finta Giardiniera at the Theater Konstanz in a coproduction with the Südwestdeutsche
Philharmonie.
In 2008 Olivia Vermeulen won the International Lied Competition ‘La Voce’ in Bayreuth
(BR-Radio) and was granted a scholarship by the Villa Musica Mainz in 2002 and 2008.
From 2008/09 to 2009/10, Olivia was a member of the Komische Oper Berlin’s studio,
where she has appeared regularly in the theatre’s main productions, in roles such
as Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Princess Linetta in the Love for Three Oranges, Daphnis
in the Queen of Spades and Phénice in Gluck’s Armida directed by Calixto Bieito.
In 2009/10 she sang Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in the German
première of the opera ‘Die rote Zora’, and Mastrilla in Offenbach’s La Périchole
(3Sat TV live transmission). Olivia returned to the Komische Oper Berlin as guest-soloist
for the roles of Zerlina and Phénice in 2010/11
In 2008, Olivia sang the part of Oberto in Handel’s Alcina at the Potsdam Winter
Opera under the baton of Andrea Marcon, a revival took place at the Halle Handel
Festival in 2009. She returned to Potsdam in 2010 as Angelina in Rossini’s La Cenerentola,
and will perform Cherubino in the new production of Le Nozze di Figaro in 2011.
In the concert field Olivia Vermeulen has appeared in venues such as the Konzerthaus
Berlin, Berlin Philharmonie, at the Kissinger summer festival 2008 and 2009 (world
premiere Rihm-Lieder) and at the festival ‘Festtage Alter Musik’ in Herne, where
she sang the title role in D. Scarlatti’s opera La Dirindina (recorded live by the
WDR ). In 2009, Olivia recorded a solo-programme with Arie Antiche for the Bayrische
Rundfunk (BR) with the Lautten Compagney Berlin under Wolfgang Katschner, a CD of
which will be released by Sony/BMG in 2011. She also sang a Christmas-solo-programme
for the BR with the Lautten Compagney which was transmitted live worldwide on December
20th, 2009. The Carus lable recently released a CD called ‘Berliner Weihnachtsmusiken
zwischen Barock und Romantik’ (first recroding of works from the famous archive of
the Berliner Singakademie) with the Lautten Compagney and Olivia Vermeulen as the
alto-soloist. Further solo recordings are planned in 2012.
In 2010, the young mezzo-soprano sang the alto-solo in J.S. Bach’ St. John Passion
with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra under Andreas Spering in Finland. Concerts with
Schumann’s work Der Rose Pilgerfahrt, Requiem and Spanish Liederspiel under the baton
of Christoph Spering followed in Stuttgart, Bruges and Cologne (WDR broadcasting
studio). At the Rheingau Festival 2010 Olivia appeared as Elvida in a concert production
of A. Scarlatti’s opera Penelope with the Lautten Compagney under Wolfgang Katschner.
She guested at the Berlin Phiharmony Hall (Berlin Music Festival) with the Musikfabrik
Koeln under Peter Eötvös, sang the title role in Ravel’s L’Enfant e les Sortilèges
at the Bolshoi Theatre Moscow under Vladimir Jurowski ( 2010/11 Season opening concerts)
and took part in a CD production of Keiser’s opera Pomona for the CPO lable with
the Capella Orlandi.
Engagments In 2011 include: lieder by Ravel in a chamber music concert with the DSO,
Flowermaiden in the RSB Radio Orchestra`s concert production of Wagner’s Parsifal
conducted by Marek Janowski at the Berlin Philharmony Hall; the roles of Barcé and
Iris in a concert production of Kraus’ opera Aeneas in Carthago at the Konzerthaus
Berlin under the baton of Lothar Zagrosek; Almirena in concerts with Handel’s opera
Rinaldo at the Rheingau Musik Festival and at the Antwerp Philharmony Hall, the title
role in a CD production of A. Scarlatti’s opera Didone -both with the Lautten Compagney
Berlin under Wolfgang Katschner- as well as concerts with Philippe Herreweghe in
Italy. In season of 2011/12, Olivia Vermeulen will make her debut at the Opéra de
Lyon in the title role of l’Enfant et les sortilèges, followed by her debut at the
Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam in 2013 as Smeraldine in the Love for Three Oranges.
Last update October 2011
