“The temperature rose only with the appearance of the Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Kseniia Nikolaieva, blessed with an imposingly large and fruitily resonant voice” – The Telegraph

 

Before she embarked on her singing journey, Kseniia should not have sung if Montserrat Caballe had not once told her: “Voices like yours..." But let's not get ahead of ourselves - let's talk about everything in order.

 

Her parents always encouraged a love of beauty and aesthetics in Kseniia’s upbringing. Following her desire, at the age of 4, she began her musical journey as a pianist. At the age of 14, she decided to try herself as a vocalist, although there were no clear prerequisites for this and no one even thought about a professional career as a singer. After a year of training, she discovered her voice. A year later, she won her first international competition, after which all conservatoires in Ukraine offered her a place to study. A year later, she became a student at the Kyiv National Academy of Music (class of Alexander Dyachenko and Nataliia Korolko), where she began her journey as a professional musician - opera singer.

 

Since childhood, alongside music, Kseniia has shown great abilities in drawing and design. This was her first passion and her “destined” future. It was simply impossible to make a choice towards one thing. She found inspiration for one in the other. Therefore, in parallel with the conservatoire, she received her education as a designer-architect.

 

At the age of 19, she made her debut on the opera stage in the role of Marta from the opera Iolanta, followed by Hivria The Fair at Sorotchynsi, Olga Eugene Onegin, Maddalena Rigoletto, Lyubasha The Tsar’s Bride.

 

Time passed, Kseniia rushed between two fires, but it was necessary to make a choice - to develop as a designer or build a career as a musician. She was selected by the Montserrat Caballe competition to participate in a master class.

 

And then came the day that turned her whole life upside down. Montserrat Caballe said “Kseniia there are so few voices like yours in the world that the fingers of one hand are enough for me to count them. You must sing!"

 

Serious, painstaking work began. It was a journey through competitions, master classes and countless hours of work. Kseniia did not waste a minute and took advantage of every opportunity to gain knowledge and improve her skills. Her talent and work ethic have given her the honor of learning from the best - Montserrat Caballe, Elena Obraztsova, Eva Marton, Anita Rachvelishvili, Nelly Miricioiu and many others.

 

At the Eva Marton competition in Budapest, Kseniia received an invitation from the casting director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden to audition, after which her journey continued in Britain. It was one of those turning points.

 

In 2019/20 Kseniia was part of the National Opera Studio, where she sang in the Welsh National Opera Sapho from Sapho. A performance for Scottish Opera in the role of Carmen was also planned, but due to the global pandemic situation, it was cancelled.

 

In the 2020-2022 season, Kseniia joined the world's most prestigious program for opera singers, the Jette Parker Artists Programme, at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. At the season 2020-2021 Kseniia made her Royal Opera House debut as Bessie in Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny and Eboli/Mrs.Quickly in the Summer Performance. In the 2021-2022 season she performed as Suzuki Madama Butterfly, Giovanna Rigoletto, Annina La Traviata, Emilia Otello in the Royal Opera House. Kseniia also took part in the Gala concert with Oksana Lyniv and Antonio Pappano. Was part of the anniversary concert dedicated to the 20th anniversary of JPYP under the direction of Antonio Pappano.

 

In the season 2022/23 Nikolaieva could be heard in A Voice from Above Die Frau ohne Schatten at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden and Berliner Philharmoniker under Kirill Petrenko, return to the Royal Opera House as Suzuki Madama Butterfly and Dritte Dame Die Zauberflöte, The Third Magd Elettra at Accademia di Santa Cecilia under the baton of Maestro Pappano.

 

In the 2023/24 season she made a successful debut in her first Wagnerian role as Mary in The Flying Dutchman. This was followed by an impressive debut as La Cieca from La Gioconda at Naples' Teatro Di San Carlo under Pinchas Sreinberg. In May, Kseniia sang a solo recital at the Exclisive Opera Awards Event in London. At the end of the season, Kseniia can be heard in yet another debut, in the role of Amneris from masterpiece Aida Verdi at Oper Im Steinbruch in Austria.

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In the 2024/25 season, Kseniia brings her dramatic depth and vocal intensity to the role of  Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, performing at two of the UK’s most prestigious festivals — the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall — alongside the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. The season also marks a powerful new chapter with her anticipated debut as Azucena in Le Trouvere at the Wexford Festival Opera in 2025.

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For updated information on upcoming performances - visit the Upcoming events.

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