Biography
Mezzo-soprano Friederike Harmsen performs in opera, theatre, and contemporary music theatre with a distinctive voice and a richly nuanced expressive range. Her repertoire spans from Baroque to contemporary music, as well as chanson, musical theatre, and experimental stage forms.
From an early age, she was fascinated by the stage — equally drawn to spoken theatre, opera, and dance. This passion led her to Berlin, where she studied at the Berlin University of Arts and started to develop an international artistic career.
In her work she focuses on contemporary music theatre. She has appeared in numerous world premieres, including at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, Neuköllner Oper, Zeitgenössische Oper Berlin, Schauspielhaus Wien, and Steirischer Herbst festival.
A defining artistic collaboration connected her with director Christoph Schlingensief. Together they created several internationally presented productions, including the Fluxus oratorio *Eine Kirche der Angst vor dem Fremden in mir*, the ready-made opera *Mea Culpa*, and *Via Intolleranza II*, which was invited to the Berliner Theatertreffen, Holland Festival, Helsinki Festival, and the festival “Politik im freien Theater”.
In 2012, she made her debut at the Salzburg Festival in Goethe’s *Faust I & II*, a production that was subsequently presented at Thalia Theater Hamburg, Berliner Theatertreffen, and the Festival d’Avignon.
Further engagements have taken her to the Staatsoper Berlin, Staatstheater Braunschweig, Volksbühne Berlin, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Schauspielhaus Zürich.
Her repertoire includes works by John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Oscar Strasnoy (*Robinson*), Mischa Spoliansky, Kurt Schwertsik (*The Journey of the Ice Princess*), and Cui (*Puss in Boots*), and she has appeared in productions such as *Songbooks*, *Fake Voices*, and other contemporary music theatre formats.
She regularly collaborates with composers such as Mark Scheibe (Deutschlandsinfonie, Dr. Mabuse with the Filmorchester Babylon), as well as internationally with Girma Yifrashewa (The Silent Hearts, National Theatre Addis Ababa).
She is currently based in Marseille, where she develops new musical projects at the intersection of classical singing, jazz, chanson, and contemporary music theatre, bringing together diverse sonic worlds and cultures.



Speaker
My work as a voice artist is closely connected to my artistic practice.
I work in dubbing, voice-over, and audio formats.
My voice is warm, flexible, and expressive.
My work as a voice artist is closely connected to my artistic practice and increasingly integrated into my current projects. Voice, language, and music come together in interdisciplinary formats that I am currently developing in Marseille.
I work in dubbing, voice-over, audiobook narration, and character voice work.
My voice is warm, flexible mid-range (vocal age around 30–45), combining softness with clarity and presence.
My work as a singer also shapes my vocal work: mezzo-soprano / contralto, ranging from opera and concert repertoire to jazz, chanson, and electro-acoustic projects.
I work in German, French, English, Italian, and Russian, and also use various dialects including Berlin, Hamburg, and Swiss German.
My work spans film, television, advertising, documentary, video games, audiobooks, and musical formats.
I trained in vocal performance at the University of the Arts Berlin, complemented by speech and acting training.
My credits include dubbing (Dora and Friends), voice-over (Judgment in Hungary), commercial work (Lamborghini – singing), and productions for Deutschlandradio Kultur, rbb Kulturradio, and ORF.
I have also performed at major theatres and festivals including the Staatsoper Berlin, Salzburg Festival, Burgtheater Vienna, Schauspielhaus Hamburg, Ruhrtriennale, and Holland Festival.
Coach
Every voice is unique — an expression of personality in all its colours and nuances.
It has the power to touch directly and reach others on a deeper level.
In my coaching, I share my experience and create a space where voices can unfold — not primarily to shape a voice, but to discover and develop it together.
I work with singers, actors, and professionals who want to strengthen their voice for performance or public speaking.
Based on classical vocal technique, I guide people of all ages — professionals and amateurs alike — in developing a voice that is freer, more confident, and more expressive.
Testimonials:
“In 50 years of my career, I have rarely met someone who brings together so many qualities.
Beyond her exceptional pedagogical effectiveness, Friederike has the ability to awaken, with great sensitivity, the passion and musical awareness within each individual.
The difficulties of singing give way to a sense of joy that becomes truly contagious. She quickly recognises each person’s potential and creates a strong sense of trust.
From the very first session, we addressed issues that had been present for years. She transformed the voices of my choir singers — and brought a new light into their eyes.
Working with Friederike is a true joy.”
Chantal Orsini, choir director, Chœur Sainte-Victoire
“As a guitarist working in experimental music and coming from a rock background, I had always been drawn to working with the voice — but never dared to explore it.
It was thanks to Friederike that I took that step. Her remarkable artistic versatility — from improvisation to contemporary music to rock — is equally present in her teaching.
I was convinced I was a difficult, if not hopeless case. Yet from the very first lessons, she gave me confidence and showed me that I could truly develop something with my voice.
Taking her lessons is simply an experience.”
Jean-Marc Montera, associated artist at GMEM (CNCM)
“Friederike is an excellent teacher with a clear and personal approach to working with the voice. She is attentive, supportive, and creates a trusting atmosphere. With great skill, she works with both amateurs and professionals — in singing, acting, and public speaking. I can highly recommend her.”
Alain Azéroual, actor
"I especially appreciated her attention to full-body connection in singing, combined with clear and precise work on resonance and vocal placement. This approach fosters a natural ease in the voice and enables smooth, seamless transitions between registers."
Caspar LLoyd James, singer
“Friederike is an exceptional voice teacher: her precise and highly personalised approach has helped me make concrete technical progress.
She also offers perspectives I would never have found on my own, always with great care and a positive spirit.
It is a true pleasure to work with her.”
Anaële Dery Woolf, career & executive recruitment consultant
“I met Friederike by chance, and she immediately shared her passion: helping each person discover how to use their instrument, place the voice, and be amazed by sounds they never thought they could produce.
I signed up for her lessons spontaneously, without ever planning to take singing lessons — and now it’s something I look forward to every week.
I feel completely at ease, even though singing in front of someone used to be very intimidating for me. I leave the lessons relaxed, seeing real progress, with growing confidence and joy.
Thank you for these weekly encounters.”
Constance Hasson, psychologist
“I learned an incredible amount in a very short time.” Tina Tripp, director
“She helped me build a bridge to my voice.” Doris B.
“The lessons unlocked my voice and restored my confidence.” Jenny Hill
“A remarkable before-and-after effect.” Ulrike Buck, entrepreneur
“She taught me how to transform and strengthen my voice, extend my range, and gave me the confidence to sing solos. As a student of Friederike, you can expect something truly special.” Marc Turpin, executive

“Sometimes words are not enough — and I have to sing."
Magazine Discover Germany
Media
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“…the performance unfolds a powerful, almost hypnotic force... accompanied by the truly divine singing of Friederike Harmsen.” RBB Kulturradio

“Since the beginning,
humankind has learned much,
ever since we became a dialogue
and listened to one another —
yet soon, we are song.”
Friedrich Hölderlin