Soprano
Ana-Carmen Balestra
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Hailed by Theaterkrant as "a revelation" and as "the true star of the evening" for her Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen, the Dutch-Argentinian soprano Ana-Carmen Balestra is fast establishing herself as one of the most versatile young voices on the European stage. Critics have praised her warm tone and her magnetic stage presence that carries her across opera, concert, and recital alike.
The 2026/27 season sees her as soprano soloist in Händel's Messiah with the Residentie Orkest and in Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem with the Noord Nederlands Orkest. On the opera stage, she takes the role of Grietje in Hans & Grietje op de Vlucht!, Opera Rebels' adaptation of Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel with Opera2Day and Studio Youkali, on a fourteen-theatre national tour opening at Amare in The Hague. With the pianist Daan Boertien she also tours Juliana Hall's solo chamber opera Anne Frank: A World Turned Upside Down, paired with wartime lieder for Liberation Day.
Her recent operatic milestones include her Dutch critically acllaimed operatic debut as Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen with Opera2Day and B’Rock, her debut at the Nederlandse Reisopera in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, and Dalinda in Händel’s Ariodante at the Royal Danish Opera. During her time as a Young Artist at the National Opera Studio in London, she performed at English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, and Scottish Opera. Further stage credits include Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro), Frasquita (Carmen), the title role in The World Turned Upside Down at the Waterperry Opera Festival, and La Principessa in Respighi’s La bella dormente nel bosco.
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An exceptional concert and lieder singer, Balestra made her recital debut at London’s Wigmore Hall and performs regularly at prestigious venues including the Concertgebouw (appearing in the Jonge Grote Zangers series with Nelly Miricioiu) and Muziekgebouw Amsterdam. Selected as a finalist for Dutch Classical Talent 2025, she completed a 14-city recital tour across the Netherlands, alongside international concert tours in Bratislava and Hungary as an EFFEA Artist. Her broad symphonic portfolio encompasses Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and Palmeri’s Misa Tango. A versatile communicator, she has appeared on BBC Radio 3, NPO Klassiek, TV's Podium Klassiek, and performed Bohemian Rhapsody on Dutch national television's Top 2000.
Balestra graduated cum laude from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, continued her training at the Copenhagen Opera Academy, and completed her studies with distinction at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she was selected for a masterclass at the Royal Ballet & Opera with Freddie De Tommaso. Winner of the GrachtenfestivalPrijs 2026, appointing her Artist in Residence for 2027, she co-founded the creative collective Opera Rebels alongside soprano Roza Herwig. Her accolades include the Sybil Tutton Opera Award, the Musicians’ Company Award, and the support of the Josephine Baker Trust.
General Management: Tiben Artists
