Hi! I’m Stella. I’m an operatic Dutch mezzo-soprano with agile coloratura and a three-octave vocal range in the wrong direction.
Have a look at my Insta/Operabase/YouTube
I believe miracles happen with immaculate preparation.
Pants roles are special favourites of mine, but I enjoy all kinds of repertoire – Cherubino, Stephano, Fyodor, Lola, Zelatrice, La Ciesca. The more coloratura, the better.
I’m a proper language nerd, as evidenced by my master’s degree in translation studies. My background as an assistant director informs my acting.
I strive to tell the story of any character in a way that serves the overarching narrative.
Recent Highlights
Torna di Tito a lato
Annio/Annius
December 2022
Sometimes you just need to work with a friend to recapture some magic.
After an intense tour with Wishful Singing in December, I recorded this aria together with my ‘brother from another mother’, Milan Faas. I knew I wanted to sing this aria, but I found it boring to sing it to thin air. Since Milan’s presence both relaxes and inspires me, and he also happens to be a fantastic opera singer from whom I can learn a lot, this ‘joint venture’ recording session was incredibly fun and rewarding.
Suor Angelica
/Gianni Schicchi
La Zelatrice, chorus and La Ciesca
Berlin Opera Academy
Summer 2022
At the end of this month-long intensive summer programme, we performed two masterpieces by Puccini: Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi.
I sang the role of Zelatrice (the Monitress) and was a cover for the role of La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi.
It was a privilege to work with a team of such passionate professionals, including director Susan Stone Li and conductor Carlos Spierer.
I also sang in masterclasses by Lorraine DiSimone, David Wakeham, Dominic Barberi and many others.
Cavalleria Rusticana
Lola
De Kleine Opera
Spring 2022
This beautiful opera took place 8 times in an old monastery in Haarlem, where the audience was treated to a traditional Sicilian meal afterwards.
The opera was renamed ‘Spaghetteria Rusticana’ for the occasion, and it was performed completely in Dutch, as the productions by De Kleine Opera always are.
Lola was a fantastic opportunity to put my acting skills to the test. I was helped by directors Xandra Mizée and Minki Gyles, who concocted a chilling backstory for her.
Wishful Singing
First alto
2020 – Current
While in my third year at the conservatory, I was accepted as first alto by the renowned Dutch a cappella ensemble Wishful Singing. We create and perform for theatre, concert hall, radio, television and even launched a course to help long-covid patients regain their trust in their breathing through singing.
2022: De zin van het leven
2021: Der müde Tod
2020: Zing je sterk
Turandot
Pang, chorus soloist (Silenzo-là!) and assistant director
Operakoor Bel Canto
2020-2021
As an assistant-director, we started planning this production in 2019 and rehearsing it in 2020. Due to covid-19, it was postponed to 2021.
During the first rehearsal in the theatre, the tenor who sang Pang tripped and fell on stage. Since I was intimately familiar with both the music and the staging, I was able to stand in for him during the dress rehearsal. Luckily, he recovered enough to sing the role during opening night!