Nima Pournaghshband
01 · Singer

Countertenor

An alto voice for Bach, Handel and Purcell, for Baroque opera rediscovered after three centuries, and for new music theatre.

Listen Upcoming performances
As Zio Principe in Suor Angelica at Theater Aachen
Suor Angelica, Theater Aachen 2026 · Photo © Thomas Aurin

“The colour of this Iranian countertenor is ravishingly beautiful, the phrasing perfect. He sings almost without vibrato and so conveys the coldness of the character.”

Der Opernfreund, Jochen Rüth · Suor Angelica 2026

“The jury was impressed by Nima’s stage presence and the connection between his breath and body. It felt like a unity on stage.”

Jury, Maastricht Music Awards 2023
Roles

Opera and music theatre

  • 2027
    Countertenor
    FURIOSO, a new Baroque opera after Mareike Fallwickl’s Die Wut, die bleibt
    Theater Aachen · director Cordula Däuper
  • 2027
    The Refugee
    Jonathan Dove, Flight. Seven performances from 6 February
    Schiller-Theater Rudolstadt with the HfM Weimar · conductor Oliver Weder · director Jochen Biganzoli
  • 2026
    Zio Principe
    Puccini, Suor Angelica. The Zia Principessa, reimagined for him
    Theater Aachen · director Ramona Bartsch, conductor Timo Handschuh
  • 2025
    Armindo
    Luigi Mancia, La Partenope. First performance in over 300 years
    Kairos Orchestra, Kai Wessel · recorded and broadcast by WDR Köln
  • 2025
    Freddy Orlog and Jim
    Samuel Roth, Die Ermittlung and Anton-Konrad Salow, Speed
    HfMT Köln · director Andreas Durban
  • 2022
    The Spirit
    Purcell, Dido and Aeneas
    Conservatorium Maastricht
Suor Angelica at Theater Aachen, staged in a church nave with the orchestra behindSuor Angelica at Theater Aachen: Angelica sings behind the Zio PrincipeSuor Angelica at Theater Aachen: the Zio Principe hands Angelica a pen
Suor Angelica, Theater Aachen 2026 · Photos © Thomas AurinSwipe for more →
SPEED at the HfMT Köln: seated on a stool with a caneSPEED at the HfMT Köln: a party sceneSPEED at the HfMT Köln: standing over a fallen woman
SPEED at the HfMT Köln: alone at a table on a dark stageSPEED at the HfMT Köln: alone on a chair in a spotlight
SPEED, HfMT Köln 2025 · Photos © Christian NielingerSwipe for more →
Written for him

Somnium Al Salaam

Gerard Beljon · Studium Chorale, Hans Leenders

After hearing his Persian improvisations, the Dutch composer Gerard Beljon wrote this work for Nima, two other soloists and the professional choir Studium Chorale. Nima sings as a countertenor in a Western style and improvises in Persian in his lower, baritone voice.

  • Sep 2024
    World premiere
    Musica Sacra, Maastricht
  • Jun 2025
    Premiere of the complete Requiem
    Orgelpark Amsterdam and AZC Maastricht
Concert

Oratorio and recital

All past productionsAgenda and tickets
  • 2027
    Bach, Christmas Oratorio
    philharmonie zuidnederland, Bart van Reyn
  • 2027
    Pergolesi, Stabat Mater
    Ad Mosam Barok, Huub Ehlen
  • 2026
    Bach, Christmas Oratorio
    Aachener Barockorchester · St. Adalbert, Aachen
  • 2026
    Manneke, Da Pacem
    Studium Chorale · Orgelpark Amsterdam
  • 2026
    Sacred concertos, Kressbronn
    Solo programme with Ensemble Belle Musique · Sommerkonzerte am Bodensee
  • 2026
    Handel, Giulio Cesare
    Barock Vokal Akademie, Paul Goodwin · Kiedrich
  • 2026
    Recital, stARTfestival
    Bayer Arts & Culture, with Cameron Shahbazi · WDR radio
  • 2026
    Bach, St John Passion
    Maastricht Kamerkoor
  • 2025
    Bach, Christmas Oratorio
    Aachener Barockorchester
  • 2025
    Mozart, Mass
    Alto soloist at Easter and in September · Maastricht
  • 2025
    Mozart, Requiem
    Alto soloist
  • 2025
    Orff, Carmina Burana
    Muziekgebouw Eindhoven
  • 2025
    Bach, St John Passion
    Maastricht Kamerkoor
  • 2024
    Bach, Cantatas BWV 62 and 63
    Christmas concert, HfMT Köln
  • 2024
    Bach, Cantata BWV 170
    Sung and conducted, with his own ensemble
  • 2024
    Bach, St John Passion
    Eschweiler
Singing in concert with a wind orchestraSinging with a Baroque string ensemble and organ in a church
Swipe for more →

MasterclassesPhilippe Herreweghe and Dorothee Mields, Collegium Vocale Gent · Elisabeth Scholl, Barock Vokal Akademie · Alessandro de Marchi · Paul Goodwin · György Vashegyi · Uta Schwabe · Sigrid T’Hooft, Baroque dance

Recordings

Listen

YouTube channel
Erbarme dichBach · St Matthew Passion Laudamus teBach · Mass in B minor Es ist vollbrachtBach · St John Passion Vergnügte RuhBach · Cantata BWV 170, complete Sento la gioiaHandel · Amadigi di Gaula FuribondoMancia · La Partenope The Cold SongPurcell · King Arthur I know a bankBritten · A Midsummer Night’s Dream Ich lade gern mir Gäste einJ. Strauss II · Die Fledermaus
Repertoire

Selected repertoire

At A = 415 and 440 Hz
Opera
  • Handel, Rinaldo · Cara sposa
  • Handel, Serse · Arsamene
  • Handel, Amadigi di Gaula · Sento la gioia
  • Mancia, La Partenope · Armindo
  • Britten, A Midsummer Night’s Dream · Oberon
  • J. Strauss II, Die Fledermaus · Orlofsky
  • Purcell, Dido and Aeneas · The Spirit
Oratorio
  • Bach, St Matthew Passion
  • Bach, St John Passion
  • Bach, Mass in B minor
  • Bach, Christmas Oratorio
  • Bach, Cantatas BWV 62, 63, 170 and 186
  • Sacred concertos by Schütz, Rosenmüller, Buxtehude and Stradella
  • Pergolesi, Stabat Mater
  • Mozart, Requiem · Orff, Carmina Burana
Song and concert
  • Wolf, Mörike-Lieder
  • Wolf, Harfenspieler-Lieder
  • Howells, King David
  • Purcell, The Cold Song
  • Jenkins, The Armed Man
  • Own songs on Persian poetry

Sings in German, Italian, English, Latin, French and Persian. Full repertoire list on request.