ElsaDreisig
- Soprano


About Elsa
“You often set limits for yourself before they exist,” says Elsa Dreisig. This is certainly not true for the French-Danish native, who is rapidly establishing herself as one of today’s most captivating lyric sopranos. Since joining the studio of the Berlin State Opera in 2015 and going on to become an ensemble member, she has made role debuts at leading houses across Europe, from Zurich to London. As an exclusive recording artist with the label Erato, Elsa in January 2022 released her third album, Mozart x 3, featuring arias from Mozart’s three Da Ponte operas and three opere serie.
Elsa’s interpretations stand out through her commitment to continually uncovering new facets in a role. That also means transcending historic constructs so that the performance comes to life in a believable way. For the soprano, no female personality – whether Manon, Violetta or Fiordiligi – should ever be a victim. “It’s the modern blood that flows in my veins and should also flow into my singing,” she explains.
And yet the ultimate goal is to “make the score heard: with a solid technique – that goes without saying – but also a body that can recreate the character in the flesh.” She likens the psychological knowledge required to a kind of inner nourishment that feeds her musical delivery. Upon debuting in the title role in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at the Grand Théâtre de Genève in 2021, Elsa above all focused on the queen’s emotional state and tried to relate to her on a personal level.
Elsa thrives on participating in what she identifies as exceptional events – even if they involve some risk. In 2017, she jumped in at a day’s notice to sing Haydn’s Creation with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle. This season, after giving concerts with two different orchestras in Copenhagen, the Berlin State Opera called on her to appear as Pamina just a few hours later. “I hope to never rest on my laurels,” she says, “and continue to explore.”
Contact
For availability and general enquiries:

Joel Thomas

Alice Stacpoole
Representation
Season Highlights
Video
- Playing
[EXTRAIT] ROMÉO ET JULIETTE by Gounod (Elsa Dreisig, Benjamin Bernheim)
Découvrez Roméo et Juliette de Gounod dans la mise en scène de Thomas Jolly, jusqu'au 15 juillet 2023 à l'Opéra Bastille : https://www.operadeparis.fr/saison-22... Combien de compositeurs ont été inspirés par les amants de Vérone dépeints par Shakespeare ? De Vincenzo Bellini à Leonard Bernstein en passant par Hector Berlioz, la liste est longue. Si le Roméo et Juliette de Charles Gounod, créé pendant l’Exposition universelle de 1867, remporte d’emblée un succès populaire, c’est sans doute parce qu’il a traduit le plus finement la pulsion de vie des célèbres amoureux. Quatre duos d’amour, une valse ardente, une musique lumineuse et lyrique : toute la partition frissonne de désir et de fraîcheur. Qui mieux que Thomas Jolly, l’un des plus inventifs metteurs en scène de sa génération, pouvait célébrer cet hymne à la jeunesse ? Après son Eliogabalo de Cavalli en 2016, ce fin connaisseur de Shakespeare signe sa deuxième collaboration avec l’Opéra national de Paris. Credit: Opera National de Paris
Elsa Dreisig - Mozart x 3
Elsa Dreisig credits Mozart with being the composer who first inspired her to become a professional singer. Now the French-Danish soprano pays him tribute with an album devoted entirely to arias from his operas. Its title, Mozart x 3, reflects a programme constructed around the three masterpieces composed to libretti written by Lorenzo Da Ponte: Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte. Elsa Dreisig sings arias allocated to three different characters in each of these operas. The total of nine ‘Da Ponte arias’ is complemented by three arias from examples of the dignified genre opera seria: La clemenza di Tito, Idomeneo and Lucio Silla. Accompanying Elsa Dreisig is the Kammerorchester Basel, conducted by Louis Langrée. Credit: Elsa Dreisig
Elsa Dreisig & Julie Fuchs sing Mozart: Mitridate rè di Ponto, K. 87, Act II: "Se viver non degg'io"
Sopranos Elsa Dreisig and Julie Fuchs sing as Sifare and Aspasia, respectively, in "Se viver non degg'io" from Mozart's Mitridate, rè di Ponto, with Les Musiciens du Louvre under the baton of Marc Minkowski. Listen to the full duet and more: https://w.lnk.to/mitLY This electrifying recording stars baritenor Michael Spyres in the title role, alongside a star cast that also includes Sabine Devieilhe as Ismene, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian as Farnace, Adriana Bignagni Lesca as Arbate, and Cyrille Dubois as Marzio. Mozart was just 14 years old when he composed Mitridate, rè di Ponto for performance in Milan. An opera seria set in ancient times, it boasts a sequence of spectacular arias for its cast of strongly contrasting characters. At the center of the action is Mitridate himself – the historical Mithridatus, King of Pontus, a ruler of Persian-Greek ancestry who was a formidable opponent of the Roman empire. Credit: Warner Classics
Thibaut Garcia & Elsa Dreisig perform Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
Soprano Elsa Dreisig and guitarist Thibaut Garcia perform the ethereal Ave Maria, arranged by Gounod from a theme by Bach, in this live concert at the Grandes Écuries de Chantilly in France. Credit: Warner Classics
Selected Repertoire
Bellini
I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Giulietta)
Berg
Wozzeck (Marie) • Lulu (Lulu)
Bizet
Carmen (Micaëla)
Charpentier
Louise (Louise)
Debussy
Pelléas et Mélisande (Mélisande)
Donizetti
Anna Bolena (Anna Bolena) • Roberto Devereaux (Elisabetta) • Maria Stuarda (Elisabetta)
Dvořák
Rusalka (Rusalka)
Gounod
Romeo et Juliette (Juliette) • Faust (Marguerite)
Handel
Alcina (Alcina)
J. Strauss
Die Fledermaus (Rosalinde)
Massenet
Manon (Manon) • Thaïs (Thaïs)
Mozart
Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira) • Cosi fan tutte (Fiordiligi) • Idomeneo (Elettra) • Mitridate (Sifare) • Le nozze di Figaro (Contessa) • Die Zauberflote (Pamina),
Poulenc
Dialogues of the Carmelites (Blanche de la Force)
Puccini
La Boheme (Mimi) • Gianni Schicchi (Lauretta)
R. Strauss
Capriccio (Countess Madeleine) • Salome (Salome) • Arabella (Arabella)
Verdi
La Traviata (Violetta) • Otello (Desdemona) • Simon Boccanegra (Amelia) • Falstaff (Alice Ford)
News
Press
Le nozze di Figaro (Contessa Almaviva)
Bayerische StaatsoperOct 2023Elsa Dreisig ist derzeit eine breit gefeierte Contessa Almaviva. Mit ihrer eleganten Erscheinung und ruhigen Haltung ist sie ein passender Gegensatz zum lebhaften Gatten. Ihre Stimme unterstreicht mit einer feinsinnigen, klar intonierten und ruhig geführten Melodien die Qualität und technische Sicherheit. Vollmundig artikuliert sie die Vokale und versteht Gefühle zu unterlegen. [TRANSLATED] Elsa Dreisig is currently a widely celebrated Contessa Almaviva. With her elegant appearance and calm demeanor, she is a fitting contrast to her lively husband. Her voice underlines the quality and technical security with a subtle, clearly intonated and calmly led melody. She articulates the vowels full-bodied and understands how to convey feelings.
- Opera Online
- 12 November 2023
Elsa Dreisig è la contessa Almaviva. Esprime disperazione, rabbia, tenerezza con una voce limpida e fresca e un portamento nobile. [TRANSLATED] Elsa Dreisig is Countess Almaviva. She expresses despair, anger and tenderness with a clear, fresh voice and noble bearing.
- L'ape musicale
- 16 November 2023
Elsa Dreißig ist wieder mal die stöckelschuhstaksige Gräfin zwischen Depression und Eherettungsangriff. Vor allem ihre zweite Arie singt sie mit herrlichen Bögen und verletzlicher Delikatesse. [TRANSLATED] Elsa Dreisig is once again the high-heeled countess between depression and an attempt to save her marriage. She sings her second aria in particular with wonderful arches and vulnerable delicacy.
- Welt
- 07 November 2023
Die Gräfin wird dargestellt von Elsa Dreisig, die neu im Ensemble der Bayerischen Staatsoper ist. Wie schwerelos schwebt ihre Stimme durch den Raum und verleiht der Partie auch da überzeugende Emotion, wo die Personenregie an ihre Grenzen kommt. [TRANSLATED] The Countess is played by Elsa Dreisig, who is new to the Bavarian State Opera ensemble. Her voice floats weightlessly through the space and lends the role convincing emotion even where the direction of the characters reaches its limits.
- Das Opernmagazin
- 03 November 2023
Berückend die Contessa di Almaviva der Elsa Dreisig. Man versteht nicht, wie der Graf eine so schöne, so meisterhaft und nuanciert singende Frau (und wenn er auch aus der Rolle fiele) links liegen lässt. Die Staatsoper kann sich glücklich schätzen, so eine Ausnahmesängerin zum Ensemble zählen zu dürfen. Leider nur für ein Jahr. [TRANSLATED] The Contessa di Almaviva by Elsa Dreisig is enchanting. One cannot understand how the Count would ignore a woman who is so beautiful, sings so masterfully and with such nuances (even if he were out of character). The State Opera can consider itself lucky to be able to count such an exceptional singer in the ensemble. Unfortunately only for one year.\
- Ioco
- 16 November 2023
Elsa Dreisig war eine artifiziell ausgefeilte Gräfin; überzeugend bereits ihr erster Auftritt „Porgi amor” zu Beginn des zweiten Akts, vielschichtig ihre Rolle zwischen Enttäuschung und Liebesschmerz. [TRANSLATED] Elsa Dreisig was an artificially polished Countess; her first appearance "Porgi amor" at the beginning of the second act was already convincing, her role multi-layered between disappointment and the pain of love.
- Bachtrack
- 31 October 2023
I Capuleti e I Montecchi
Salzburg FestivalAug 2023Nicht weniger beeindruckend gestaltete Elsa Dreisig an ihrer Seite die Giulietta. Mit verträumten Klangfarben verlieh sie der Figur mädchenhafte Frische; ihren fokussierten, silbrig glänzenden Sopran ließ sie entsprechend der widerstreitenden Gefühlswelten mal rosarot verliebt strahlen und mal grau verschattet für Melancholie sorgen. Dabei meisterte sie scheinbar mühelos alle Klippen der Partie – von scheinbar endlosen Legatobögen bis hin zu sanften Höhen im Piano. Und obwohl es sich um eine konzertante Aufführung handelte, gelang es ihr auch stets, den inneren Konflikt zwischen ihrer Liebe zu Romeo und der erwarteten Wahrung der Ehre der Familie nicht nur stimmlich, sondern auch in der Darstellung zum Ausdruck zu bringen, wodurch die Figur nicht bloß eine Schablone blieb, sondern zum Leben erwachte. [TRANSLATED] Elsa Dreisig's Giulietta was no less impressive at her side. With dreamy timbres, she lent the character a girlish freshness; her focused, silvery soprano sometimes radiated a rose-red glow of love and sometimes a grey shade of melancholy to match the conflicting emotional worlds. She mastered all the cliffs of the part seemingly effortlessly - from seemingly endless legato arches to gentle high notes in the piano. And although this was a concert performance, she always managed to express the inner conflict between her love for Romeo and the expected preservation of the family's honour not only vocally, but also in her portrayal, which meant that the character did not remain a mere template, but came to life.
- Bachtrack
- 27 August 2023
Ebenso überzeugend passt Stimme und Spiel von Elsa Dreisig als Giuletta. Ihre Stimmfärbung ist weich und dunkel. Die Französin zeigt die Zerbrechlichkeit der mädchenhaften Seele, die lodernde Liebe und Hoffnung, in den Wirren doch noch ein Glück zu finden. [TRANSLATED] The voice and acting of Elsa Dreisig as Giuletta are just as convincing . Her vocal coloration is soft and dark. The Frenchwoman shows the fragility of the girlish soul, the blazing love and hope of finding happiness in the turmoil.
- Opera Online
- 19 August 2023
Roméo et Juliette (Juliette)
Opera National de ParisJun 2023Nonobstant quelques aigus un peu durcis et une entrée qu’on pourrait souhaiter plus légère, la Juliette d’Elsa Dreisig, dès qu’elle prend la mesure de son destin, n’est pas moins magnifique, par la chair du médium, là où l’on distribue souvent des sopranos trop légers, la frémissante beauté du phrasé, l’incandescence de l’incarnation – qui culmine dans l’air du breuvage, dont les grands élans appellent cette voix corsée. [TRANSLATED] Elsa Dreisig's Juliette is no less magnificent once she takes the measure of her destiny, for the fleshiness of the midrange, where too light a soprano are often cast, the quivering beauty of the phrasing, the incandescence of the embodiment - which culminates in the aria du breuvage, the great outbursts of which call for this full-bodied voice.
- ConcertoNet
- 23 June 2023
Auch für jede ihrer Arien sehr applaudiert und auch hochgelobt, verkörpert und singt die französisch-dänische Sopranistin Elsa Dreisig eine Juliette in einem durchflutenden und tragendem Licht aus vielen dunklen tragischen Leidenschaften. Das Paar bildet ein ebenso komplementäres, aber ebenso auch widersprüchliches Duo, angefangen bei ihren extremen dekadenten Kostümen: Schwarz für Roméo, Weiß für Juliette. [TRANSLATED] Also very applauded and highly praised for each of her arias, the French-Danish soprano Elsa Dreisig embodies and sings Juliette in a flooding and carrying light from many dark, tragic passions. The pair form an equally complementary but equally contradictory duo, starting with their extremely decadent costumes: black for Roméo , white for Juliette .
- IOCO
- 21 June 2023
I have heard few singers with greater musical chemistry than Elsa Dreisig and Benjamin Bernheim. Their voices blended well together, and they seemed to share similar instincts on where to go with the music. Their instruments blended in such a way that there was no competition at all. It was a beautiful sonic cooperation. Their mutual chemistry was there even when they were not singing together. There was often something of Dreisig in Bernheim’s phrases, and a souvenir of Bernheim in Dreisig’s high notes. The most cathartic moment of this, to me, was in the death scene, in which they both were very aware how to emulate musical gestures and dynamics when facing death. Juliette, since its inception has been the home of the greatest French prima-donnas. The first Juliette, Marie Caroline Miolan-Carvalho, is one of those nineteenth-century opera stars whose voice’s qualities, so old in story, unfortunately preceded the advent audio recording. Dreisig is part of this star tradition, shining in her two arias with a light and fierce instrument. Her coloraturas are always marked by the great willfulness within Juliette’s spirit. It scarcely seems that Juliette is ever even minimally subordinated to anyone else. In her first aria, “Je Veux Vivre,” Dreisig survived an elaborate troupe of spinning dances and still managed to create a meaningful version of Juliette. There were no senseless dynamics; everything was clearly connected to the text. In her second aria, “Amour ramine mon courage,” she had much stamina and rhythmical control.
- OperaWise
- 22 June 2023
Reste le couple éponyme, longuement acclamé. C’est à Elsa Dreisig qu’échoit le rôle difficile de Juliette, qui doit passer de l’insouciance juvénile de ses premières apparitions au lyrisme enflammé des duo d’amour, puis au dramatisme sombre de l’air du quatrième acte. Parfaitement crédible dans le personnage, Elsa Dreisig possède une fraîcheur de timbre qui la rend particulièrement brillante dans l’acte du bal, avec une élégante et virtuose entrée en scène – même si la chanteuse choisit la version sans contre-ré de sa périlleuse vocalise. Le portrait dessiné est in fine parfaitement convaincant et très émouvant. [TRANSLATED] That leaves the eponymous couple, who have won rave reviews. The difficult role of Juliet falls to Elsa Dreisig, who must move from the youthful insouciance of her first appearances to the fiery lyricism of the love duets and then to the sombre drama of the Act IV aria. Perfectly believable in character, Elsa Dreisig has a freshness of tone that makes her particularly brilliant in the ball act, with an elegant and virtuoso entrance - even if the singer chooses the version without counter-revolution in her perilous vocalise. In the end, the portrait she paints is perfectly convincing and very moving.
- Bachtrack
- 18 June 2023
Il Trittico
Bavarian State OperaElsa Dreisig überzeugt gleichermaßen in „Il tabarro“ und „Gianni Schicchi“, wo sie durch ihre weltbekannte Arie „O mio babbino caro“ nicht nur dem Schicksal die entscheidende Wendung gibt, sondern sich auch in die Herzen sowohl ihres Vaters als auch des Publikums singt. [TRANSLATED] Elsa Dreisig is equally convincing in “Il tabarro” and “Gianni Schicchi”, where she not only gives fate a decisive twist with her world-famous aria “O mio babbino caro”, but also sings her way into the hearts of both her father and the audience.
- klassik.com
- 04 April 2024
Mitridate, re di Ponto
Staatsoper Unter den LindenDie Sopranistin Elsa Dreisig wiederholte ihre Aufführung von Sifare, die sie 2021 mit demselben Orchester und Dirigenten aufgenommen hatte. Auf der Bühne ist Dreisig noch großartiger als auf der Aufnahme. Sifares Arie im zweiten Akt („Lungi da te, mio bene“) war besonders ergreifend, weil Dreisig die Traurigkeit eines jungen Mannes zum Ausdruck brachte, der zwischen seiner Liebe zu Aspasia und der Loyalität gegenüber seinem Vater hin- und hergerissen ist. [TRANSLATED] Soprano Elsa Dreisig repeated her performance of Sifare, which she recorded in 2021 with the same orchestra and conductor. On stage, Dreisig is even more magnificent than on recording. Sifare's Act II aria (" Lungi da te, mio bene ") was particularly poignant because Dreisig expressed the sadness of a young man torn between his love for Aspasia and loyalty to his father.
- Das Opernmagazin
- 27 November 2022