Nicholas Lens

Nicholas Lens Noorenbergh (born 1957) is a Belgian composer of contemporary music, particularly known for his operas.^[1][2] His work is published by Schott Music^[1] and Mute Song^[3] and distributed by Universal Music Group and Sony BMG. In 2020 Nicholas Lens signed with Deutsche Grammophon. Lens lives alternately in Brussels and Venice.^[4] He has one daughter, the Berlin-based painter Clara-Lane Lens^[5][6]

Nicholas Lens
Nicholas Lens in Paris in 2007
Born	Nicholas Lens Noorenbergh 1957 (age 67–68) Ypres, Belgium
Occupation(s)	Composer, librettist, author
Website	www.nicholaslens.com

Works

Operas

• Is this the gate?,^[7] chamber opera with libretto by J. M. Coetzee, world premiere at Adelaide Festival, Australia 2024
• L.I.T.A.N.I.E.S, trance-minimal chamber opera with libretto by Nick Cave, written and produced by Nicholas Lens & Nick Cave, release by Deutsche Grammophon 2021^{[8][9][10][11]}
• Shell Shock, opera with libretto by Nick Cave, world premiere on 24 October 2014 at the Royal Opera House La Monnaie^{[12][13][14][15]}
• Slow Man,^[16][17] opera with libretto by J. M. Coetzee based on his novel Slow Man,^[18] world premiere on 5 July 2012 at the Malta Festival, Grand Theatre, Poznań^{[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]}

Vocal and chamber music

• The Puppet Designer (Der Bashafer fun Marionetn) for baritone and chamber orchestra, live performance at UNESCO (The Power of Culture, Festival 18 June 1996), published by Schott Music 2006^[26]
• Wired, theatrical chamber music for harp and soprano, premiered at Beijing, China on 5 December 2006.^[2]
• The trilogy The Accacha Chronicles (2005),^[27][28] for soprano, tenor, countertenor, mezzo-soprano, baritone, bass, male actor, small choir, mixed choir and chamber orchestra, Sony BMG 82876 66239 2, published by Schott Music^[29]
  1. Flamma Flamma – The Fire Requiem (1994), Sony Classical SK 66293^[30][31]
  2. Terra Terra – The Aquarius Era (1999), BMG Classics 74321 697182
  3. Amor Aeternus – Hymns of Love (2005), Sony BMG 82876 66238 2
• Orrori dell'Amore (1995) for soprano, baritone, counter tenor and chamber orchestra, CD release on Sony Classical (SK 62016), published by Schott Music.^[32]

Study books

• 100 Etudes, Exercises and Simple Tonal Phrases for Piano (Volume I and volume II), published by Schott Music.^[33]
• Venticinque Movimenti per Contrabbasso solo (25 Movements for solo double bass), published by Schott Music.^[34]

Films and film scores

• The film (22 min.) Love Is the Only Master I'll Serve, premiered at the Brooklyn International Film Festival New York, June 2006, directing, script and music score^[35]
• The soundtrack of Mein erstes Wunder, a film by Anne Wild, world premiere at Berlin International Film Festival, 2003^[36]
• The soundtrack of ‘'Marie Antoinette is niet dood'’, a film by Irma Achten, world premiere at Rotterdam International Film Festival, 1996^[37]

Novel publication

Nicholas Lens is the author of the novel (Dutch language) called Het bed van lucht released by Borgerhoff & Lamberights.^[38]

Artistic residencies

• Academia Belgica, Rome 1 September 2021 – 31 January 2022^[39]
• Geneva, Vandoeuvres, Fondation JAT - M.M., 6 residencies in 2023, 2024, 2025^[40]
• Chang Mai, artistic residency at Prem Tinsulanonda - patronized by Mom Luang Tridhosyuth Devakul -, 2023 ^[41]