“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 back then, things would have been different.”

During her musical studies, where 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 produces and directs new music performances and chamber opera. Season 19-20 will bring new stage direction opportunities of opera’s by Salieri, Vivaldi and Dvorak.
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 works with vocal coach Maurits Draijer and lives in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Her final Master Exam was in February 2019 at the conservatory of Tilburg and was a tribute to operatic boy roles with the title: My name is Valetto.

“Since 13 I wanted to sing Valetto. I have grown into this character over the years and am happy to have been able to portray him already 4 times before my MA exam.”

In season 19-20 Meneka will sing the role of Pamina with music theatre group Silbersee.

“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 new and challenging.”

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

Final Master of Music Exam
Start rehearsals Die Zauberflöte W.A. Mozart, role of Pamina
Stage director- / Producer assistant at Opera Nijetrijne, Netherlands
Matthew Passion on Tour through The Netherlands

“…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