Biography

The South African-born mezzo-soprano Marie-Claire op ten Noort performs repertoire from the baroque era to contemporary opera in the Netherlands and Europe. This season she can be heard as Rafael in the new opera Gijsbrecht van Aemstel by Jan van Maanen at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and in January 2026 she returns to Weekend Opera Utrecht as Bersi in Andrea Chénier in the Main Hall of TivoliVredenburg.

With Weekend Opera Utrecht Marie-Claire sang various leading roles: Eboli in Don Carlo (2020), Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana (2023) and Amneris in Aida (2024), all in the Main Hall of TivoliVredenburg Utrecht. Recently she sang Dido in Purcell's Dido & Aeneas under the baton of Michel de Valk with the Erasmus Consort & Kunst Vocaal.

During her time in England Marie-Claire performed with various companies and at prestigious venues. With Kent Opera she portrayed Sesto in La clemenza di Tito and Emilia in Otello, with performances in London,throughout Kent, in a high-security prison on Sheppey Island and at the Brighton Fringe Festival. With Secret Opera she sang Annio in La clemenza di Tito and the alto part in Mozart's Requiem. With the Maidstone Hospice Festival Choir/Choral Union and director Colin Morris and conductor Martin Hindmarsh she sang the title role in Iolanthe and Edith in Pirates of Penzance.

She performed for Princess Beatrix at the official opening of the Dutch Centre in London. Additionally, Marie-Claire sang in experimental opera projects at the Tate Modern, where she sang The Secretary from Menotti's The Consul in a multidisciplinary production by Counterpoint Arts and Opera Machine.

Last summer she sang Santuzza at the Arte Lirica Festival in Italy, where she worked with internationally renowned conductors and singers at various locations in the Bassano region. Other festivals where she has sung include Amsterdamse Hartjesdagen, the Aurora Festival, Opera aan de Schie Festival and Waterlandse Opera Zomer.

Marie-Claire's opera repertoire includes roles such as Sieglinde and Waltraute in Die Walküre, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Lidoine in Dialogues des Carmélites, the Maestra in Suor Angelica, Ježibaba in Rusalka and Fenena in Nabucco. She worked with Dutch companies such as Hojotoho Opera Studio and Opera aan de Schie, where she appeared in various productions in the Netherlands.

Her concert and oratorio repertoire encompasses works from baroque to contemporary composers: the Verdi Requiem, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Mozart's Requiem, Handel's Messiah and Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle.

After her training at the Utrecht Conservatoire, for which she received support from the Ridderschap van Utrecht, Marie-Claire continued her studies with renowned teachers. She worked with James McCray, Eva Maria Westbroek, Frank van Aken and Wiebke Göetjes.

During her conservatoire training she performed scenes from I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Der Rosenkavalier and La clemenza di Tito. Furthermore she sang Drei Lieder Op. 20 by Jan Brandts Buys and Eenheid uit zoveel tegendelen by Koos de Muinck in various ensembles. This period laid the foundation for her later international successes.

Besides traditional opera, Marie-Claire was involved in educational and innovative projects. For Grange Park Opera's Robins Project she brought opera to socially challenged primary schools. With Kent Opera she provided workshops in high-security prisons and through The Opera Experience she organized concerts in Essex, collaborating with The Minories Galleries in Colchester to make opera accessible to new audiences.

In London she was a regular guest at the Dutch Church under the leadership of minister Joost Röselaers, a tradition she continues in the Netherlands during special church occasions.

Marie-Claire op ten Noort is a versatile singer who combines traditional roles and innovative projects with the same dedication, love and professionalism.