Bree Nichols is a young American soprano praised for her “rich vocal disposition” (KlasikaPlus) and compelling stage presence. A Fulbright grantee to the Czech Republic in 2021–22, Bree is known for her sensitive interpretations of Czech vocal music as well as over two dozen operatic roles spanning a diverse repertoire. Her career has taken her to the stages of Tulsa Opera, the North Czech Philharmonic, Pilsen Opera, Symphony of the Mountains, Capitol City Opera, Opera Roanoke, Lewisville Lake Symphony, Olomouc Baroque Festival, and more. In 2023, she made her debut as Monica in Tulsa Opera's production of The Medium, and won 1st place in the Artist Division of the National Opera Association’s Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition as well as the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (Arkansas District). Bree’s expanding discography includes her solo debut album, Pure Morning, featuring all Czech repertoire, as well as multiple new music releases with the Navona Records label. Bree was also the winner of the 2020 Presser Award in support of her performance and study of Czech opera. Her recent roles include the title roles of Lucia di Lammermoor and The Bartered Bride as well as Gilda in Rigoletto and Nedda in Pagliacci.
BREE NICHOLS
Off the stage, Bree Nichols is a scholar and innovator in community opera advocacy, where her performance expertise informs her leadership in shaping the next generation of musicians. She is founder and former general director of Stafford Opera Troupe in her hometown of Stafford, Virginia; there she created the Summer Opera Program offering free training and performance opportunities to young singers. Bree holds a Master of Music degree from University of Georgia and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of North Texas. Her dissertation, culminating in the creation of an anthology of Czech opera arias with corresponding research, translations, and phonetic transcriptions, galvanized her continuing performance and study of Czech opera and art song in the U.S. and abroad. Following her Fulbright research in the Czech Republic, Bree's notes on Czech diction were published in the 2023 Bärenreiter Urtext edition of Dvořák's Rusalka.
“American soprano Bree Nichols made her debut at the Silesian Theatre, and her performance earned a thunderous reception from the first. Bree’s beautiful, dramatically-projected soprano perfectly dominates the stage!
“It’s a wonder how outstanding this young singer’s articulation is, who, through the quality of her pronunciation... rivals native Czech speakers.
“In her every note was the sound of a human heart laid bare, yearning for a love without humiliation, cruelty, and falsehood. Bree Nichols as Káťa Kabanová... presented a fantastic performance, which is, particularly from a vocal perspective, of an international caliber.”
– OSTRAVAN
REPERTOIRE
OPERA ROLES
BLITZSTEIN
Alexandra, Regina
DONIZETTI
Lucia, Lucia di Lammermoor
DVOŘÁK
Rusalka, Rusalka
FOERSTER
Eva, Eva*
GLUCK
Ismene, Alceste
JANÁČEK
Káťa Kabanová, Káťa Kabanová
Jenůfa, Její pastorkyňa (Jenůfa)
Fox, Příhody lišky Bystroušky (The Cunning Little Vixen)
LÉHAR
Valencienne, The Merry Widow
LEONCAVALLO
Nedda, Pagliacci
MENOTTI
Monica, The Medium
MOZART
Despina, Così fan tutte
Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni*
Madame Silberklang, Der Schauspieldirektor †
First Lady, The Magic Flute*
Countess, Le nozze di Figaro
Susanna, Le nozze di Figaro †
Zerlina, Don Giovanni †
MONTEVERDI / HANZLÍK
Arianna, L'Arianna
PASATIERI
The Diva, La Divina*
PUCCINI
Nella, Gianni Schicchi
Mimì, La Bohème
Musetta, La Bohème*
Lauretta, Gianni Schicchi †
ROUSSEL
Béatrice, Le testament de la tante Caroline
SMETANA
Mařenka, The Bartered Bride
STRAUSS, J.
Rosalinde, Die Fledermaus
Adele, Die Fledermaus
STRAUSS, R.
Arabella, Arabella*
VERDI
Gilda, Rigoletto
WEILL
Jennie, Down in the Valley
Rose Maurrant, Street Scene*
ORATORIO & CONCERT
FAURÉ
Requiem
FOERSTER
Čisté jitro (Pure Morning)
MELANI
Quai bellici accenti
MOZART
Requiem*
ORFF
Carmina Burana
PERGOLESI
Stabat Mater
RUTTER
Requiem
RYBA
Česká mše vánoční (Czech Christmas Mass)
WALTON
Façade
ART SONG
AXMAN
Duha (Rainbow)
DVOŘÁK
Cigánské melodie (Gypsy Songs)
Písně milostné (Love Songs)*
FOERSTER
3 Nocturnes, Op. 163
Písně soumraku (Twilight Songs)
Praze (To Prague)
GRANADOS
La maja dolorosa
KAPRÁLOVÁ
Jablko s klína “Ukolébavka”
Smutný večer
MILHAUD
Quatre Chansons de Ronsard
NOVÁK
Melancholické písně o lásce (Melancholy Songs About Love)
REISSEROVÁ
Březen (March)
STRAUSS
Brentano Lieder
* indicates partial role/work performed
† indicates role covered