Biography
Rebecca Nelsen celebrated her debut at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing as Hanna Glawari in Die lustige Witwe, a performance broadcast nationally across China. The American soprano also made her debut in January 2026 at the Grand Opera Florida, performing the role of Adele in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.
This season, she returns to the Vienna Volksoper, where she is one of the company’s leading stars, appearing as Pamina, Violetta, and Hanna Glawari—roles for which she is widely acclaimed.
In May 2025, she made her debut at the Philharmonie de Paris with the Orchestre de Paris under Omer Meir Welber in Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis as Bubikof (role debut). The following summer, she covered Danielle de Niese in the Glyndebourne Festival’s new production of Lehár’s The Merry Widow as Hanna Glawari.
In 2024 the established soprano made her house debut at the Royal Danish Opera as Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata, a role she has now sung over fifty times to both audience and critical acclaim.
In 2022, Rebecca made her debut as Prosperina in Wolfgang Rihm’s one-woman opera with Neue Oper Wien under Walter Kobera, earning rave reviews. Following her “barnstorming” debut at the Leipzig Opera as Lulu in 2018, she toured Europe with the London Philharmonia and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen in Berg’s Lulu Suite.
Highlights of earlier seasons include performances at the Grand Théâtre de Genève (Die Entführung aus dem Serail / Konstanze), Malmö Opera (La traviata / Violetta), Opéra de Monte-Carlo (Die Entführung aus dem Serail / Konstanze), and numerous leading roles at the Vienna Volksoper ranging from Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) and Adele (Die Fledermaus) to Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia) and Violetta (La traviata).
Originally from Texas, Rebecca studied at Vienna’s University of Music and Performing Arts as a Fulbright scholar. She launched her career with Neue Oper Wien, where she created the role of Eva in the world premiere of Peter Eötvös’ Lilith – Paradise Reloaded in Vienna and Budapest, later recorded on CD.
Repertoire
Opera/Operetta
Composer, Work
Composer
Opera/Operetta
Part
L.v.Beethoven, Fidelio
L.v.Beethoven
Fidelio
Marzeline
A. Berg, Lulu
A. Berg
Lulu
Lulu
G. Bryars, Marilyn forever
G. Bryars
Marilyn forever
Marilyn
E. D'Albert, Tiefland
E. D'Albert
Tiefland
Pepa
G. Donizetti, Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali
G. Donizetti
Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali
Cortilla Sartinecchi
R. Dünser, Radek
R. Dünser
Radek
M. Eggert, Die letzte Verschwörung
M. Eggert
Die letzte Verschwörung
Lara Lechner, a flat-earther / The SYSTEM
P. Eötvös, Paradise Reloaded
P. Eötvös
Paradise Reloaded
Eva
G. Gershwin, Porgy and Bess
G. Gershwin
Porgy and Bess
Clara
P. Hindemith, Cardillac
P. Hindemith
Cardillac
Cardillacs Tocher
E. Højsgaard, Don Juan kommt aus dem Krieg
E. Højsgaard
Don Juan kommt aus dem Krieg
Soubrette / Gretl, younger daughter / Zerlina / village girl
E. Humperdinck, Hänsel und Gretel
E. Humperdinck
Hänsel und Gretel
Gretel
E. Kalman, Die Csárdásfürstin
E. Kalman
Die Csárdásfürstin
Komtesse Stasi
E. Kim, Mama Dolorosa
E. Kim
Mama Dolorosa
Mama Dolorosa, Soprano
C. Kolonovits, Vivaldi - Die fünfte Jahreszeit
C. Kolonovits
Vivaldi - Die fünfte Jahreszeit
Annina
E. Künneke, Der Vetter aus Dingsda
E. Künneke
Der Vetter aus Dingsda
Julia de Werth
M.F. Lange, Das Gespenst von Canterville
M.F. Lange
Das Gespenst von Canterville
Frauke-Beeke Hansen
F. Lehar, Die Lustige Witwe
F. Lehar
Die Lustige Witwe
Hanna Glawari
F. Lehár, Die lustige Witwe
F. Lehár
Die lustige Witwe
Valencienne, Hannah Glawari
F. Loewe, Brigadoon
F. Loewe
Brigadoon
Fiona MacLaren
J. S. Mayr, Fedra
J. S. Mayr
Fedra
Ippolito
W.A. Mozart, Cosi fan tutte
W.A. Mozart
Cosi fan tutte
Fiordiligi
W.A. Mozart, Die Zauberflöte
W.A. Mozart
Die Zauberflöte
Pamina
W.A. Mozart, Don Giovanni
W.A. Mozart
Don Giovanni
Donna Anna
W.A. Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro
W.A. Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro
Contessa
W.A. Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro
W.A. Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro
Susanna
W. A. Mozart, Così fan tutte
W. A. Mozart
Così fan tutte
Despina
J. Offenbach, Les contes d'Hoffmann
J. Offenbach
Les contes d'Hoffmann
Antonia
J. Offenbach, Orphée aux enfers
J. Offenbach
Orphée aux enfers
Euridice
T. Fernes, Zauberflöte 06
T. Fernes
Zauberflöte 06
Pamina
G. Puccini, La Boheme
G. Puccini
La Boheme
Musetta
G. Puccini, La Boheme
G. Puccini
La Boheme
Mimi
G. Puccini, Gianni Schicchi
G. Puccini
Gianni Schicchi
Lauretta
G. Puccini, La Rondine
G. Puccini
La Rondine
Lisette
W. Rihm, Proserpina
W. Rihm
Proserpina
Proserpina
G. Rossini, Il turco in Italia
G. Rossini
Il turco in Italia
Frau Fiorilla
G. Rossini, Il barbiere di Siviglia
G. Rossini
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Rossina
R. Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier
R. Strauss
Der Rosenkavalier
Sophie
J. Strauss, Die Fledermaus
J. Strauss
Die Fledermaus
Adele
M. Trojahn, Limonen aus Sizilien
M. Trojahn
Limonen aus Sizilien
Teresina
M. Troja, Der Schraubstock
M. Troja
Der Schraubstock
Giulia Fabbri
G. Verdi, Falstaff
G. Verdi
Falstaff
Nanetta
G. Verdi, Fasltaff
G. Verdi
Fasltaff
Mrs. Alice Ford
G. Verdi, La Traviata
G. Verdi
La Traviata
Violetta
*not yet performed on stage
Concert and Lied
Composer, Work
Composer
Work
L.v. Beethoven, 9th Symphony
L.v. Beethoven
9th Symphony
J. Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem, op. 45
J. Brahms
Ein deutsches Requiem, op. 45
Reviews
Violetta success at Volksoper Wien
Rebecca Nelsen spielt nicht die Violetta - sie lebt sie. In jeder Phrase, in jedem Pianissimo, in jeder Bewegung. Ihr "Addio del passato" gehörte zu den Höhepunkten des Abends - berührend, hellwach und emotional vollkommen überzeugend.
Contact
Sylvia Saavedra-Edelmann
Artist Manager
ssaaved@sonoartists.com
+43 (0) 650 552 4855
Samantha Farber
Founder and director