About me
Biography
The young mezzo-soprano Viola Westhues has been pursuing her Master’s degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) since October 2026, studying with Prof. Claudia Visca and receiving stage direction training from Roland Schwab.
Previously, she completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hanover, studying with Prof. Marek Rzepka. An additional focus of her studies was the Lied class of Prof. Jan Philip Schulze, where she developed an in-depth engagement with the interpretation of art song.
During the 2026/27 season, Viola Westhues will appear as Mascha and Prilepa in the season premiere of Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades” at Staatsoper Hannover, under the musical direction of Francesco Angelico and in a production directed by Roland Schwab.
In December 2026, she will also perform the role of the Mother in Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” at the Schönbrunn Palace Theatre in Vienna, under the musical direction of Daniel Linton-France.
In March 2026, she took part in “Opera Reimagined”, a project by Staatsoper Hannover featuring six world premieres by emerging composers, under the musical direction of Snežana Nešić. The production also took her to the Scharoun Theatre in Wolfsburg.
In November 2025, she made her debut at Staatsoper Hannover as the Milliner in Richard Strauss’s “Der Rosenkavalier”, under the musical direction of Mario Hartmuth.
In early 2026, Viola Westhues made a vocal transition from soprano to mezzo-soprano, the voice type in which she has since continued to develop her artistic career. Prior to this transition, she performed leading roles at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hanover, including the Goose-Girl in Humperdinck’s “Königskinder” in 2025 and Nella in Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” in 2026.
Viola Westhues is also active as a concert soloist. Her repertoire includes the alto solo parts in Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s oratorios “Paulus” and “Elias”. She has also performed the role of Leonida in a shortened concert version of Wilhelmine von Bayreuth’s oratorio “Argenore”, appearing with the Göttingen Baroque Orchestra under the direction of Antonius Adamske.
A particular passion of her artistic work lies in the interpretation of Lied. She has been working with Prof. Jan Philip Schulze since 2023 and has also received important musical inspiration from KS Brigitte Fassbaender, KS Dorothea Röschmann and Georg Nigl. Her Lied performances have taken her to venues and festivals including Musikfest Bremen and the Hugo Wolf Academy in Stuttgart. Her artistic interests include the interpretation of art song with the fortepiano as well as the repertoire of women composers.
Viola Westhues has received several awards and scholarships in recognition of her artistic work. In 2024, she was awarded the Young Artist Prize at the Walter and Charlotte Hamel Opera Competition. In 2026, she was also named a scholarship recipient by the Richard Wagner Association of Hanover. From 2023 to 2026, she held a scholarship from Live Music Now Hannover e. V.
In addition to her vocal training, Viola Westhues has extensive instrumental and dance experience. She studied the violin for over 15 years, gaining solo, chamber music and orchestral experience. She has also received training in ballet and jazz dance.
Another artistic passion is musical theatre, in which she continues to develop her skills through regular coaching sessions.