Nicholas Lens

Nicholas Lens
Nicholas Lens in Paris in 2007
Born	Nicholas Lens Noorenbergh 1957 (age 67–68) Ypres, Belgium
Occupation(s)	Composer, librettist, author
Website	www.nicholaslens.com

Nicholas Lens Noorenbergh (born 1957) is a Belgian composer of contemporary music, particularly known for his operas. ^{[1] [2]} His work is published by Schott Music ^[1] and Mute Song ^[3] and distributed by Universal Music Group and Sony BMG. In 2020 Lens signed with Deutsche Grammophon. He lives alternately in Brussels and Venice, ^[4] and has one daughter, the Berlin-based painter Clara-Lane Lens ^{[5] [6]}

Works

Operas

• Is this the gate?, ^[7] chamber opera with libretto by J. M. Coetzee, world premiere at Adelaide Festival, Australia 2024
• L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S, trance-minimal chamber opera with libretto by Nick Cave, written and produced by Nicholas Lens & Nick Cave, release by Deutsche Grammophon 2021 ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}
• Shell Shock , opera with libretto by Nick Cave, world premiere on 24 October 2014 at the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}
• Slow Man , ^{[16] [17]} opera with libretto by J. M. Coetzee based on his novel Slow Man , ^[18] world premiere on 5 July 2012 at the Malta Festival, Grand Theatre, Poznań ^{[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]}

Vocal and chamber music

• The Puppet Designer (Der Bashafer fun Marionetn) for baritone and chamber orchestra, live performance at UNESCO (The Power of Culture, Festival 18 June 1996), published by Schott Music 2006 ^[26]
• Wired, theatrical chamber music for harp and soprano, premiered at Beijing, China on 5 December 2006. ^[2]
• The trilogy The Accacha Chronicles (2005), ^{[27] [28]} for soprano, tenor, countertenor, mezzo-soprano, baritone, bass, male actor, small choir, mixed choir and chamber orchestra, Sony BMG 82876 66239 2, published by Schott Music ^[29]
  1. Flamma Flamma – The Fire Requiem (1994), Sony Classical SK 66293 ^{[30] [31]}
  2. Terra Terra – The Aquarius Era (1999), BMG Classics 74321 697182
  3. Amor Aeternus – Hymns of Love (2005), Sony BMG 82876 66238 2
• Orrori dell'Amore (1995) for soprano, baritone, counter tenor and chamber orchestra, CD release on Sony Classical (SK 62016), published by Schott Music. ^[32]

Study books

• 100 Etudes, Exercises and Simple Tonal Phrases for Piano (Volume I and volume II), published by Schott Music. ^[33]
• Venticinque Movimenti per Contrabbasso solo (25 Movements for solo double bass), published by Schott Music. ^[34]

Films and film scores

• The film (22 min.) Love Is the Only Master I'll Serve , premiered at the Brooklyn International Film Festival New York, June 2006, directing, script and music score ^[35]
• The soundtrack of Mein erstes Wunder, a film by Anne Wild, world premiere at Berlin International Film Festival, 2003 ^[36]
• The soundtrack of ‘'Marie Antoinette is niet dood'’, a film by Irma Achten, world premiere at Rotterdam International Film Festival, 1996 ^[37]

Novel publication

Nicholas Lens is the author of the novel (Dutch language) called Het bed van lucht released by Borgerhoff & Lamberights. ^[38]

Artistic residencies

• Academia Belgica, Rome 1 September 2021 – 31 January 2022 ^[39]
• Geneva, Vandoeuvres, Fondation JAT - M.M., 6 residencies in 2023, 2024, 2025 ^[40]
• Chang Mai, artistic residency at Prem Tinsulanonda - patronized by Mom Luang Tridhosyuth Devakul -, 2023 ^[41]

References

1. "Nicholas Lens – Profile". Schott-music.com. 14 November 1957. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
2. "Nicholas Lens – Mute Song". Mute Song. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
3. Archived 30 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
4. https://www.bruzz.be/culture/music/nicholas-lens-aan-de-opera-met-nick-cave-2014-10-21
5. "Masks off: Clara-Lane Lens reveals her take on the corona crisis".
6. "L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S Nicholas Lens & Nick Cave".
7. "Is this the gate?". adelaidefestival.com.au. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
8. "L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S Nicholas Lens & Nick Cave – Insights".
9. "Nick Cave teams up with composer Nicholas Lens for "lockdown opera" 'L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S'". NME . 8 October 2020.
10. "Nick Cave and Nicholas Lens Collaborate on New Opera L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S". 9 October 2020.
11. "Il 4 dicembre uscirà la "lockdown opera" di Nick Cave | Rolling Stone Itali"". 9 October 2020.
12. "La Monnaie ¦ De Munt". Lamonnaie.be. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
13. "Nick Cave Has Written An Opera 'Shell Shock' To Premiere in October". Louderthanwar.com. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
14. "Nick Cave en Nicholas Lens creëren opera 'Shell Shock'". Theartserver.org. 21 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
15. "Cave en Lens skep opera oor WOI". Dieburger.com. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
16. "J.M. Coetzee opera to have world premiere in Poznan – Thenews.pl :: News from Poland". Thenews.pl. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
17. Archived 5 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
18. "Zwykły człowiek – rozmowa z Nicholasem Lensem – Wywiady" (in Polish). Empik.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
19. Roszak, Joanna (July 2012). "And We Break Down Ourselves" Bi-Weekly, Polish National Audiovisual Institute
20. Derkaczew, Joanna (11 July 2012). "'Slow Man' – Coetzee w operze. Jak gaśnie człowiek". Gazeta Wyborcza .
21. "JM Coetzee Writes Libretto for Slow Man – The Opera". Bookslive.co.za. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
22. "Multimedia: Slow Man the Opera Premiers in Poland (Plus: Honorary Doctorate for Coetzee)". Booklive.co.za. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
23. "Uitgeverij Cossee :: Nieuwsbericht :: J.M. Coetzee op de planken". Uitgeverijcossee.nl. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
24. "J.M. Coetzee – nieuws". Jmcoetzee.nl. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
25. "Znany noblista odwiedzi Poznań | Lepszy Poznań – informacje z Twojego fyrtla". Lepszypoznan.pl. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
26. "Shop – Nicholas Lens – The Puppet Designer". Schott-music.com. 18 June 1996. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
27. "LENS Accacha Chronicles BMG CLASSICS 82876 66239 2 [MC]: Classical CD Reviews- March 2005 MusicWeb-International". Musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
28. "Nicholas Lens". TuneCore.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
29. "Cover Story: 100 Greatest Albums you never heard of – Tulsa World: Archives". Tulsaworld.com. 31 December 1999. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
30. Time Magazine (1995). "MEMENTO MORI". 'Time Inc, 1995', Retrieved on 23 February 2007.
31. "Flammagories, hommage à Nicholas Lens – ANTHOLOGIE – Fiche livre – Critiques – Adaptations". nooSFere.com. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
32. "De Filmkrant :: Marie Antoinette Is Niet Dood". Filmkrant. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
33. "100 etudes, exercises and simple tonal phrases".
34. "25 Movements".
35. "LOVE IS THE ONLY MASTER I'LL SERVE by Nicholas Lens – Experimental Film @ Brooklyn Film Festival". Wbff.org. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
36. "Mein erstes Wunder". Meinersteswunder.de. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
37. "Marie Antoinette is niet dood". Filmkrant (in Dutch). 9 December 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
38. "Drie vragen aan Nicholas Lens: 'Het creatieproces is voor mij het machtigste wat bestaat'". focus.knack.be. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
39. "Newsletter Luglio 2021 | Academiabelgica.it".
40. https://maisonsmainou.ch/residents2024.html
41. https://artistresidencythailand.com/

External links

• Official website
• "Nicholas Lens". Schott Music (in German). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
• "Nicholas Lens – Mute Song". Mute Song. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
• Nicholas Lens at IMDb
• Reilly, Nick (8 October 2020). "Nick Cave teams up with composer Nicholas Lens for "lockdown opera" 'L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S'". NME. Retrieved 21 September 2024.