Biography

Greek mezzo-soprano Nefeli Kotseli was born in Athens, where she studied piano, music theory and singing at the National Conservatory of Athens (graduating with distinction and first prize for the best performance). She continued her postgraduate studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Gabriele Lechner and in Lied/ Oratorio with Anton Scharinger. There she sang Mercédès Carmen, Cornelia Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Sesto La Clemenza di Tito and Charlotte Werther. She also performed the role of Dritte Dame Die Zauberflöte at the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn in Vienna, the role of Smaragda in the children’s opera Der Tulifant by Gottfried von Einem and the role of Miss Newkirk in the children’s opera Hilfe, Hilfe die Globolinks by Menotti both at Das MuTh Theater in Vienna with the Vienna Boys Choir. In 2023 she made her debut with Greek National Opera in the role of Neris in Cherubini’s Medea, conducted by Philippe Auguin and alongside the Medea of Anna Pirozzi. Nefeli has also appeared as soloist in numerous concerts including Mozart’s Requiem, Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Händel’s Messiah, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Philharmonie Wien, as well as Vijay Upadhyaya’s 1st Symphony- “Prayer Flags” with the China National Symphony Orchestra in the Beijing Concert Hall. In 2021 she made her debut at the Wiener Musikverein singing alto solo in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with the Philharmonie Wien conducted by Vijay Upadhyaya.

The unexpected revelation of the evening was the Neris of the hitherto little-known mezzo Nefeli Kotseli, possessor of a rich velvety and obviously expertly trained mezzo voice. Hopefully we will hear a lot more of her in the future
Opera Now Magazine – Helena Matheopolous – July 2023