28.03.2026

NIKOLA HILLEBRAND as Sophie at the Berlin State Opera

Having previously sung the role during her time at the Dresden Semperoper to great acclaim, Nikola has since impressed on some of Europe’s most prestigious opera houses, and makes her return to the role in an exciting combination with fellow Machreich Artist Patricia Nolz as Octavian.

Impressing with her floating high-notes and “the most exquisite silver tones imaginable”, the additional lyrical warmth she is able to bring to the role will undoubtedly allow her to portray even greater emotional sincerity and depth, which comes in to play following what is probably the opera's most iconic scene: the Presentation of the Rose.

Between the second and third performances, she performs once again as soprano soloist in Brahms' Requiem, after her celebrated successes in January a the State Opera in Berlin and Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Following her performances in Berlin, Nikola Hillebrand will mark an equally significant milestone in her career debuting in the same role at the Vienna State Opera later this season in the celebrated production by Otto Schenk. There she will be joined by Viennese favourites and fellow Machreich Artists tenor Thomas Ebenstein (in the role of Valzacchi) and baritone Adrian Eröd (in the role of Herr von Faninal).

Cast:

Julia Kleiter, Field Marshal Princess Werdenberg
Peter Rose, Baron Ochs von Lerchenau
Patricia Nolz, Octavian
Roman Trekel, Herr von Faninal
Nikola Hillebrand, Sophie
Clara Nadeshdin, Maid Marianne Leitmetzerin
Karl-Michael Ebner, Valzacchi
Katharina Kammerloher, Annina
Friedrich Hamel, A Police Commissioner
Florian Hoffmann, Steward to the Marschallin
Junho Hwang, Steward to Faninal
Carles Pachon, A Notary
Stephan Rügamer, An Innkeeper
Andrés Moreno García, A Singer
Sonja Herranen, A Milliner

Christian Thielemann, Musical Director
André Heller, Director
Xenia Hausner, Set Design
Arthur Arbesser, Costumes
Olaf Freese, Lighting
Günter Jäckle, Philip Hillers, Video
State Opera Chorus, State Opera Children’s Chorus, Staatskapelle Berlin