Soprano
Ana-Carmen Balestra
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Dutch-Argentinian soprano Ana-Carmen Balestra is celebrated for her clear and expressive soprano voice, complemented by a sparkling stage presence. A recent graduate of the Guildhall Opera Course in London, she has garnered attention for her talent as both an opera and lieder singer. In April 2024, she made her recital debut at the prestigious Wigmore Hall. During the 2024/25 season, she is a Young Artist at the National Opera Studio in London, where she has already performed with the English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, and Scottish Opera.
Ana-Carmen is one of the four finalists of Dutch Classical Talent 2025, one of the most prestigious awards in the classical music world in the Netherlands. As part of this recognition, she will embark on her own recital tour, performing in 14 major theatres across the Netherlands in September-October 2025.
In the summer of 2025, Ana-Carmen performs the role of Anne Frank in the solo production The World Turned Upside Down at the Waterperry Festival. She will then make her Dutch operatic debut as Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen with Opera2Day and B’Rock. In 2026, Ana-Carmen will also make her debut at the Nederlandse Reisopera in the Dutch version of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen.
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Her operatic repertoire includes roles such as Dalinda in Ariodante at the Royal Danish Opera, Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro, Frasquita in Carmen at the Waterperry Opera Festival, and La Principessa in Respighi’s La bella dormente nel bosco. She has also performed Susanna in Stephen McNeff's A Star Next to the Moon at Guildhall, as well as scenes from operas like Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Blanche in Dialogues des Carmélites, Governess in The Turn of the Screw, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Despina in Così fan tutte, Fiorilla in Il Turco in Italia, Cendrillon (title role), Musetta in La Bohème, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Ophelia in Hamlet by Brett Dean, and Sangaride in Lully’s Atys.
In addition to her operatic work, Ana-Carmen is a passionate lieder singer. She has performed in renowned venues such as Wigmore Hall, Muziekgebouw Amsterdam, Concertgebouw (as part of the Jonge Grote Zangers series with Nelly Miricioiu). Ana-Carmen was also selected for a masterclass at the Royal Ballet & Opera with Freddie De Tommaso, as part of her time at the National Opera Studio. Her recital programs often explore innovative combinations of musical worlds, geographical influences, and different styles, reflecting both her versatility and her personal approach to music.
Ana-Carmen graduated cum laude from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, continued her studies at the Copenhagen Opera Academy, and completed her education with distinction at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (Opera Course). She has performed in oratorios such as Mozart’s Requiem, Brahms’ Requiem, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. She is a recipient of the Sybil Tutton Award (2024), the Musicians’ Company Award (2024), and is a proud artist of the Josephine Baker Trust.
General Management: Tiben Artists
