Tina Drole
Mezzo-soprano
The Slovenian mezzo-soprano Tina Drole was a member of the Opernstudio of the Cologne Opera in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons and has been working as a freelance opera and concert singer since the 2025/26 season. She is a frequent guest at the Cologne Opera, performing roles such as Third Lady in The Magic Flute and Grimgerde in Die Walküre.
She also created her own children’s opera, “Die Kuh Carmen”, written by Dominik Wilgenbus in collaboration with Wolfgang Stefan Schwaiger and K.S. Miljenko Turk. Her repertoire includes self-initiated projects such as thematically curated song recitals, including the Waldkonzert, performed together with her husband. In January and February 2026, she will take a short parental leave, as she and her husband are expecting their first child on 1 January 2026.
In the 2024/25 season, she sang roles including Third Maid (Elektra), Mercédès (Carmen), and Nireno (Giulio Cesare). In December 2024, she stepped in at short notice at the Aalto Theatre Essen as Curra in La forza del destino, learning the role in just a few hours. In 2023, she made her debut as Ursuline at the Bavarian State Opera in the new production of The Devils of Loudun (Krzysztof Penderecki) under Vladimir Jurowski, and as Mercédès in Carmen (G. Bizet) at the Open Air Festival Oper Burg Gars. During her studies, she gained experience in roles such as Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Annio and Sesto (La clemenza di Tito), Third Lady (The Magic Flute), The Witch (Der Trommler), and Tolomeo (Giulio Cesare).
In addition to opera, song and concert singing are among her greatest passions. She has performed extensively as a concert and recital soloist, including appearances at the Höri Musiktage on Lake Constance, with the Symphony Orchestra Münster, the European Youth Orchestra, and the Sinfonieorchester Bergheim.
She is the recipient of numerous national and international awards. In August 2021, she was a finalist at the Brahms Competition, receiving the special prize for the most convincing interpretation of the contemporary required song. In November 2019, she won third prize at the 5th International Music Competition Triomphe de l’Art in Belgium.
Tina Drole studied song interpretation with Prof. Christian Gerhaher and Prof. Gerold Huber at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. Her vocal training took place at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (BA) and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels (MA). Masterclasses with Brigitte Fassbaender, Margreet Honig, Edith Wiens, and Helmut Deutsch completed her education. She was a laureate of the International Udo Reinemann Masterclasses 2019/20 and worked with renowned artists in the classical song scene, including Christine Schäfer, Urszula Kryger, Malcolm Martineau, David Kuyken, and Thomas Oliemans.
Language skills
German, English, French, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian
MASTER OF ARTS – Master Lied – Prof. Christian Gerhaher & Gerold Huber
Hochschule für Musik und Theater München | 2021 – 2023
MASTER OF ARTS – Master Voice
Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel | 2018 – 2020
BACHELOR OF ARTS – Bachelor Voice
Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien | 2013 – 2018
MUSIC STUDIES – The Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana
Principal subjects: piano, music theory and singing | 2009 – 2013
Opera, Operetta, Musical | May 2026
Sinfonieorchester Bergheim | With Wolfgang Stefan Schwaiger & Tina Drole, Conductor: Matthias Kiefer
Grimgerde – Die Walküre, R. Wagner | 2026
Oper Köln | Conductor: Marc Albrecht, Production: Paul‑Georg Dittrich
Alto Solo – Nelson Mass, J. Haydn | November 2025
Alzenau | European Youth Orchestra | Conductor: Gerhard Jenemann
Third Lady – The Magic Flute, W. A. Mozart | September 2025
Oper Köln | Conductors: José Luis Gutiérrez / Katharina Mühlner, Production: Michael Hampe
Carmen – Q Carmen, Dominik Wilgenbus | 2025
Elchinger Musiktage | Piano: Miljenko Turk, Wolfgang Stefan Schwaiger – Mustafa
Nireno – Giulio Cesare, G. F. Händel | July 2025
Oper Köln | Conductor: Rubén Dubrovsky, Production: Vincent Boussard
Alisa – Lucia di Lammermoor, G. Donizetti | May 2025
Oper Köln | Conductor: Giuliano Carella, Production: Eva‑Maria Höckmayr
Alto Ensemble Solo – La Passion de Simone, K. Saariaho | May 2025
Oper Köln | Conductor: Christian Karlsen, Production: Friederike Blum
Mercédès – Carmen, G. Bizet | 2025
Oper Köln | Conductor: Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Production: Lydia Steier
Third Lady – The Magic Flute for Young and Old, W. A. Mozart | 2025
Oper Köln | Conductor: Rainer Mühlbach, Production: Brigitta Gillessen
Curra – La Forza del Destino, G. Verdi | December 2024
Aalto Music Theatre Essen | Conductor: Andrea Sanguineti, Production: Sláva Daubnerová
Helga – The Bremen Town Musicians, Attila Kadri Şendil | 2024
Oper Köln | Conductor: Rainer Mühlbach, Production: Theresa von Halle
Third Maid – Elektra, R. Strauss | 2024
Oper Köln | Conductor: Felix Bender, Production: Roland Schwab
Anton – Pünktchen und Anton, Iván Eröd | 2024
Oper Köln | Conductor: Rainer Mühlbach, Production: Brigitta Gillessen
Nurse – Romeo and Julia, Boris Blacher | 2024
Oper Köln | Conductor: Luca Marcossi, Production: Brigitta Gillessen
Helga – The Bremen Town Musicians, Attila Kadri Şendil | 2023
Oper Köln | Conductor: Rainer Mühlbach, Production: Theresa von Halle
Marla – Marla the Mayfly, Ralf Gscheidle | 2023
Oper Köln | Conductor: Ralf Gscheidle, Production: Brigitta Gillessen
Ursuline – The Devils of Loudun, K. Penderecki | 2023 & 2022
Bavarian State Opera | Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski, Production: Simon Stone
Mercédès – Carmen, G. Bizet | 2022
New Production, Oper Burg Gars | Conductor: Johannes Wildner, Production: Dominik Wilgenbus
Cherubino – Le Nozze di Figaro, W. A. Mozart | 2020
Student Production, Royal Conservatory of Brussels
Soloist – Mass in D major, Op. 86, A. Dvořák | 2019
Conductor: David De Geest
Soloist – Symphony No. 9, Op. 125, L. v. Beethoven | 2018
Symphony Orchestra Münster | Conductor: Joachim Harder
Third Lady – The Magic Flute, W. A. Mozart | 2017
New Production, Oper Burg Gars | Conductor: Johannes Wildner, Production: Kurt Josef Schildknecht
The Witch – Der Trommler | 2017
World Premiere, Taschenoper Vienna | Music: Martin Brandlmayr, Production: Jevgenij Sitochin
Sesto & Annio – La clemenza di Tito, W. A. Mozart | 2016
Student Production, MDW
Tolomeo – Giulio Cesare, G. F. Händel | 2015
Student Production, MDW
Finalist and Award for the best interpretation of a modern compulsory piece | 2021
Brahms-Competition, Pörtschach
Third prize in the discipline Lied | 2020
5. International Music Competition Triomphe de l’Art, Belgium
1st Place and Kobe Mayor Award | 2016
The 17th Osaka International Music Competition, Japan
Finalist | 2016
International Singing Competition “Ferruccio Tagliavini”, Deutschlandsberg, Austria
Masterclasses:
Helmut Deutsch
Brigitte Fassbaender
Margreet Honig
Julian Prégardien
Edith Wiens
Udo Reinemann International Masterclasses 2019/20:
Joseph Breinl
Urszula Kryger
David Kuyken
Malcolm Martineau
Thomas Oliemans
Christine Schäfer
Christianne Stotijn
Minor in Voice | 2019
Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Belgium
Major in Voice | 2025
International Academy of Music Cologne, Germany
Repertoire
A. Adamek
Ines | Speaker
Boris Blacher
Romeo and Julia | Nurse
G. Bizet
Carmen | Mercédès
G. Donizetti
Lucia di Lammermoor | Alisa
G. F. Handel
Giulio Cesare | Tolomeo
Giulio Cesare | Nireno
W. A. Mozart
La clemenza di Tito | Annio & Sesto
Le nozze di Figaro | Cherubino
Così fan tutte | Dorabella
The Magic Flute | Second Lady & Third Lady
Frank Martin
Jedermann – Monologues (staged)
J. Offenbach
The Tales of Hoffmann | Nicklausse (studied)
G. Puccini
Gianni Schicchi | La Ciesca
K. Saariaho
La Passion de Simone | Alto Ensemble Solo
G. Verdi
La Forza del Destino | Curra
R. Wagner
Die Walküre | Grimgerde
C. M. von Weber
Der Freischütz | Bridesmaid
Georges Bizet
Die Kuh Carmen | Carmen
Martin Brandlmayr
Der Trommler | The Witch
Iván Eröd
Pünktchen und Anton | Anton
Ralf Gscheidle
Marla the Mayfly | Marla
W. A. Mozart
The Magic Flute | Third Lady
Attila Kadri Şendil
The Bremen Town Musicians | Helga
Various Composers
Children’s Opera | Everything That Flies | Solo
S. Barber
- Op. 10
Johannes Brahms
- Op. 32
- Op. 91
- Op. 105
Claude Debussy
- 3 Chansons de Bilitis
Henri Duparc:
- 13 Mélodies
Antonín Leopold Dvořák
- Sieben Zigeunerlieder Op. 55
Franz Schubert
- Op. 23
Robert Schumann
- Op. 40
- Frauen Liebe und Leben/Acht Lieder Op. 42
- Fünf Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart Op. 135
R. Strauss
- Op. 10
Selection of songs
S. Barber, A. Berg, J. Brahms, H. Berlioz, E. Chausson, G. Fauré, R. Hahn, J. Hatze, F. Liszt, A. Mahler, G. Mahler, O. Messiaen, F. Schubert, C. Schumann, R. Schumann, S. Rachmaninov, M. Ravel, R. Schollum, R. Simoniti, K. Szymanowksi, L. M. Škerjanc, P. I. Tchaikovskz, H. Wolf
ORATORIO / MASSES
Johann Sebastian Bach
St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9, Op. 125
Antonín Dvořák
Mass in D major, Op. 86
Stabat Mater, Op. 58
Joseph Haydn
Nelson Mass | Missa in angustiis, D minor
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Stabat Mater, P. 77
Carl Maria von Weber
Mass No. 2 in G major, Op. 76 ‘Jubelmesse’
CHAMBER MUSIC
L. Berio
12 Folk Songs for Mezzo-Soprano and Seven Instruments
J. Brahms
Op. 61 (Duets for Two Voices and Piano)
Op. 66 (Duets for Two Voices and Piano)
M. Ravel
3 Chansons madécasses
