Opera composer / librettist / author / producer / director
Nicholas Lens’ works are published by
Schott Music and Mute Song Ltd and distributed by Deutsche Grammophon, Universal Music Company and Sony/BMG
Upcoming
- ‘Costello in Limbo‘ (Elizabeth Costello at the gate) – full fledged opera 2hrs 30 min. Nicholas Lens / John M. Coetzee (libretto) – commissioned opera by The Royal Opera House La Monnaie-De Munt, world premiere 2027-2028 season
- New novel (manuscript in finalising stage, title announced soon, Dutch language)
- Artist in residence at La chartreuse, Villeneuve lez Avignon, April/May 2026
- Recording double piano CD ‘100 piano studies’ (Köln, Germany)
Recent:
°Live reading together with John M. Coetzee, October 13th, 2025 at The Royal Opera House La Monnaie/De Munt (organised by Passaporta/VUB university/La Monnaie-De Munt) and recital with Allison Cook – with excerpts of the opera Slow Man and Costello in Limbo
°Flamma Flamma -The Fire Requiem Celebration 30 Years Luxury Edition, remastered en re-edited version on double vinyl and CD (2025 vs release by Schott Music International/ Intuition)
°Het bed van lucht (A bed of air) first novel by Nicholas Lens, currently only available in Dutch, released late autumn 2024 by Borgerhoff & Lamberigts
‘Is this the Gate?‘ vocal chamber work for mezzo and ensemble, Nicholas Lens / John M. Coetzee (libretto), world premiere at Adelaide Festival, Australia, March 8, 2024
Deutsche Grammophon Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Spotify W Schott Music MuteSong
Professional Requests:
In respect of professional use of Nicholas Lens’ works, recordings, rentals for live operatic, symphonic, chamber or ensemble performances, authorizations / synchronizations for dance performances, films or any audio-visual works or events:
-please contact Mute Song Ltd, London music.publishing@mute.com in respect of the following operas:
- Shell Shock, A Requiem of War, full-fledged opera, Nicholas Lens / Nick Cave (libretto), world premiere The Royal Opera House La Monnaie-De Munt, updated score version 2026 available
- L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S‘ Nicholas Lens / Nick Cave (libretto), (sound carrier release by Deutsche Grammophon 2021) trance opera, master score (live version for chamber ensemble and soloists) available
- Eros, Europa and The Intersex Human, full-fledged teenage love operette, (NEW, in development)
- Is this the Gate? chamber opera Nicholas Lens / John M. Coetzee (libretto) (NEW), world premiere at Adelaide Festival, Australia, March 8, 2024, score version available
- Costello in Limbo (Elizabeth Costello at the gate), full-fledged opera, Nicholas Lens / John M. Coetzee (libretto) (NEW, commissioned in exclusivity, world premiere Royal Opera House La Monnaie-De Munt, season 2027-28)
- The Master of Petersburg, full-fledged opera Nicholas Lens / John M. Coetzee (libretto) (NEW, in development)
- Slow Man (Coïtus with a Stranger), full-fledged opera, Nicholas Lens / John M. Coetzee (libretto), premiered at Malta Festival, Poznan, Grand Theatre, 2012, updated master score version 2026 available
– please contact Schott Music Mainz, Germany, Mrs. Katja Riepl
Katja.Riepl@Schott-Music.com in respect of the following works:
- ‘The Accacha Chronicles‘ -vocal symphonic trilogy, part 1 ‘Flamma Flamma, The Fire Requiem,’ part 2 ‘Terra Terra,’ part 3 ‘Amor Aeternus, Hymns of Love’ master score available
- xb (symphonic songbook), master score available
- ‘The Puppet Designer’ (for baritone and chamber orchestra), master score available
- 100 etudes, exercises and simple tonal phrases, volume I, volume II (piano study book)
- 25 movimenti (études double bass solo)
-please contact Mrs. Rose-Mary June rosemary.june@yahoo.com for all other inquiries (however only professional) and for the following opera’s:
- ‘Love is the only master I’ll serve‘, art film 24 min. written & directed by N. Lens
- ‘The Accacha Chronicles’ (‘Flamma Flamma’, ‘Terra Terra’, ‘Amor Aeternus’) besides the publishing for the recording utilisation and synchronisation rights
- ‘Orrori dell’ Amore‘, besides the publishing for the recording utilisation and synchronisation rights)
-please contact Deutsche Grammophon info@deutschegrammophon.com (Stralauer Allee 1, 10245 Berlin) for professional inquiries on synchronisation authorisations in respect of the album ‘L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S‘ (Nicholas Lens & Nick Cave)
-please contact (B&L) info@borgerhoff-lamberigts.be for all professional inquiries on the novel (currently in Dutch) Het bed van lucht