“Through music, we will realize how similar we all are. This will help us to make the world a little better.
After receiving her BA in music performance at the conservatory of Amsterdam, Srilankan born soprano Meneka Senn decided to specialize in (early) opera.
She has been a student of acting since age 8 and loves to dedicate these skills to her roles, especially the operatic boy-roles (Hosenrollen).
Her love for opera began when 13 year old Meneka was invited to join the Monteverdi-cycle at the Dutch National Opera , directed by Pierre Audi.
“Is there anything more beautiful than Monteverdi? If Pierre Audi didn’t hire me, things would have been different.”
During her musical studies, she received important vocal impulses from Linda Rands, Robert van der Vinne and Peter Kooij. After the Monteverdi cycle, she participated in several opera productions at the Dutch National Opera directed by Peter Sellars, Pierre Audi and Willy Decker. 2015-2016 she was part of the Exzellenz Program Barock Vokal in Mainz, Germany, where she followed lessons with Andreas Scholl among others.
She performed with conductors like Sigiswald Kuijken , Maris Kupcs , Fabio Bonnizoni and Raphael Alpermann on different operatic projects and sang in the ensembles of Philippe Herreweghe, Peter Philips and Ton Koopman.
February 2017 Meneka was accepted into the Carnegie Hall young artist program in New York where she worked alongside the Tallis Scholars.
“To me, Art is meant to make the watcher think about his own behaviour. Therefore artists play a crucial part in the society’s mental health. If we (artists) manage to be wise enough to play our cards right, our Art can change the world.”
Meneka is co-founder of the Dutch opera company B.O.O.M! Bold Opera On the Move where she produced and directed music performances untill 2019.
In 2019 she founded a new company called YALA MUSIC. This company will collborate wih differen musical professionals around europe. more information can be found at www.yalamusic.eu
Season 17-18-19 Meneka performed with the Opera of Pilzn (Czech Republic) in the roles of La Musica and Euridice in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. This production was also performed at the Markgräfisches Theater in Bayreuth.
Meneka finished her Master of Music studies at the conservatry of Tilburg.
Currently she works with vocal coach Maurits Draijer and lives in Utrecht, Netherlands
Apart from singing, Meneka takes part in different programs helping refugees learn Dutch and does volunteer work as a teacher of English and music for underprivileged /orphan children in different countries around the world.
Upcoming
- Start rehearsals Die Zauberflöte W.A. Mozart, role of Pamina.
Premiere oktober 20th Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam.
“The beauty of theatre groups like Silbersee is that they go against the traditional operatic style. There will always be places where you can find a traditional Zauberflöte. To me, these days, the real art is to make it different, challenging, and fit for a new era.” - Soprano 1 recordings and concert of the Sacre Cantiones by Ivan Lukacic in Split Croatia december 2019
What other say:
“…Meneka Senn überzeugte mit klarem Sopran…” “…Senn gives Bach an exciting and sensual future…”
“…Bezaubernde Sopranistin in Hosenrolle…” “…Meneka Senn zingt ontroerend fraai het Agnus Dei…”
“…ingetogen en met elan…”
Operatic roles
- G. Caccini Euridice
La Tragedia, Ninfa - C. Monteverdi L’incoronazione di Poppea
Valetto, Fortuna, Drusilla, Amore, Athena, Virtue - C. Monteverdi L’Orfeo
La Musica, Euridice, Ninfa - F. Cavalli Xerse
Adelanta - H. Purcel Dido and Aeneas
Belinda, Second woman - G.F. Händel Semele
Iris - G.F. Händel Clori, Tirsi e Fileno
Tirsi - G.F. Händel Apollo e Dafne
Dafne - J.Haydn L’isola disabitata
Silvia - W.A. Mozart Die Zauberflöte
Pamina, Papagena - W.A. Mozart Le nozze di Figaro
Cherubino, Barbarina - W.A. Mozart La clemenza di Tito
Servillia - B. Smetana Die verkaufte Braut
Esmeralda - G. Bizet Carmen
Frasquita - M. Williamson The happy prince
The swallow - C. Saint-Saens La princesse jaune
Lena