Printz, Nikola

Mezzo Soprano

Known for their “sheer stylistic range…full-throated vocalism and raw emotional honesty” (San Francisco Classical Voice), artistically fluid performer Nikola Printz is a second-year Adler Fellow with San Francisco Opera. The San Francisco Chronicle recently named their solo Schwabacher Recital Series debut one of San Francisco’s Best of 2022, writing, “Listeners reveled in the beauty of Printz’s singing – their lustrously dark chest tones, their elegant phrasing… such commitment and tonal splendor.”

Prinz participated in the Merola Opera Program in 2021 and 2022, and made their mainstage debut in Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten, also performing Musetta in the company’s production of Bohème Out of the Box. This season, they return to Opera San Jose for Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, return to Festival Opera for their acclaimed portrayal of Carmen, and make their San Francisco Ballet debut as the mezzo soloist is Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde.

Recent career highlights include the title roles in Carmen and Dido and Aeneas with Opera San Jose, L’italiana in Algeri with Opera Memphis, The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein with Pocket Opera, Freschi’s Ermelinda with Ars Minerva, Orfeo ed Eurydice with West Edge Opera, and The Rape of Lucretia with Green Mountain Opera Festival. They have also appeared as Elle in La voix humaine, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, The Fox in Cunning Little Vixen, Olga in Eugene Onegin, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha.

Printz first established themselves onstage in jazz and cabaret venues and are well-versed in genre bending, crossover styles, creating the role of Velma Louise Cole in Boxcar Theater's immersive Speakeasy SF and joined San Francisco Symphony for their annual queer variety show Holiday Gaiety. An accomplished aerialist, Printz has also developed and performed on spinning trapezes in both grand concert halls and smoky cabaret clubs.