Nils Braun
Nils Braun, born in 1996 in Cologne, Germany, discovered his passion for the performing arts at an early age. While still in school, he gained hands-on experience at the Theater Baden-Baden, where he assisted in several productions and composed music, laying the foundation for his future career in opera and theater direction.
After completing his studies, Braun immersed himself in the world of opera, following acclaimed directors such as Barry Kosky, Kasper Holten, Stefan Herheim, and Andreas Homoki to leading opera houses in Amsterdam, Berlin, Helsinki, Madrid, Dresden, and Zürich. This exposure to diverse artistic approaches profoundly shaped his vision and skills.
Braun went on to work as an assistant director at prominent institutions, including the Chemnitz Opera, the Oldenburg State Opera, the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf. In 2018, he received the Ring Award Special Prize for International Directors for his innovative concept for Don Pasquale.
As a director, Braun has led numerous productions across Europe, with a particular emphasis on premiering new works. His credits include the world premiere of The Crash, an opera by Russell Hepplewhite, as well as the premiere of the play Hector's Journey or The Search for Happiness. Both productions exemplify his dedication to collaborating with contemporary composers and librettists to bring fresh, compelling narratives to the stage.
Braun is passionate about shaping the future of theater and opera by championing new works that resonate with modern audiences. His artistic mission is to develop a new canon for the performing arts—one that reflects the challenges, aspirations, and diverse perspectives of today's world. By fostering inspiring partnerships and embracing innovative storytelling, Braun seeks to create productions that leave a lasting impact on audiences and contribute to the evolution of theater and opera.
Fotos taken by the wonderful Stephan Walzl during the rehearsals for Hector at the Oldenburg State Theatre 2025
http://www.stephanwalzl.de
My Works
2025
Der gestiefelte Kater / Alleetheater Hamburg, Theater für Kinder Hamburg
Hectors Reise oder die Suche nach dem Glück / Oldenburgisches Staatstheater
2024
The Crash (WP)/ Oldenburgisches Staatstheater
2023
Hectors Reise oder die Suche nach dem Glück (WP)/ Theater Freiberg
Der Fischer, seine Frau und ein Butt (WP)/ Forum Neue Kunst Oldenburg
2022
Cafe Populaire/ Theater Freiberg
Laika (German Premiere)/ Forum Neue Kunst Oldenburg
2021
De Mörder to Middernacht (WP)/ Forum Neue Kunst Oldenburg
2020
Zarah 47/ Oldenburgisches Staatstheater
Zaide/ Oldenburgisches Staatstheater
2019
Zarah 47/ Theater Chemnitz
Wiener Menage (WP)/ LAB Frankfurt
2018
Opernstunde Hänsel und Gretel/ Theater Chemnitz
Weisse Rose/Theater Chemnitz
Don Pasquale/ Theater Chemnitz
2017
Im weissen Rössl/ Schlossfestspiele Ludwigslust
Experience/
Erfahrung
-
Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci/ Mascagni, Leoncavallo
Badisches Staatstheater 2024
D: Dietrich Hilsdorf
Ml: Johannes Willig
Don Pasquale/ Donizetti
Badisches Staatstheater 2024
D: Christoph von Bernuth
Ml: Sebastian Schwab
Don Carlo/ Verdi
Deutsche Oper am Rhein 2024
D: Guy Joosten
Ml: Antonio Fogliani
Lucia di Lammermoor/ Donizetti
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2020
D: Stephen Lawless
Ml: Vito Cristofaro
Orpheus in der Unterwelt/ Offenbach
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2019
D: Felix Schrödinger
Ml: Felix Pätzold
Hänsel und Gretel/ Humperdinck
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2019+21+22+23
D: Michael Moxham
Ml: Felix Pätzold, Thomas Böhnisch, Vito Cristofaro
My fair Lady/ Loewe
Theater Chemnitz 2019+2020
D: Erik Petersen
Ml: Jakob Brenner
Pique Dame/ Tschaikowsky
Theater Chemnitz 2017
D: Helen Malkowsky
Ml: Felix Bender
Turandot/ Puccini
Theater Chemnitz 2017
D: Hinrich Horstkotte
Ml: Felix Bender
Hänsel und Gretel/ Humperdinck
Theater Chemnitz 2017+2018+2019
D: Steffen Piontek
Ml: Guillermo Garcia Calvo, Felix Bender, Stefan Politzka
Rinaldo/ Handel
Theater Chemnitz 2018
D: Kobie van Rensburg
Ml: Felix Bender
-
Il trittico/ Puccini
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2024
D: Tobias Ribitzki, Tom Ryser, Mathilda Kochan
Ml: Hendrik Vestmann
Peter Grimes/ Britten
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2024
D: Hinrich Horstkotte
Ml: Vito Cristofaro
Die tote Stadt/ Korngold
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2023
D: Christoph von Bernuth
Ml: Hendrik Vestmann
Chess/ Anderson und Ulvaeus
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2023 (+Revival 2023)
D: Andrea Schwalbach
Ml: Andreas Kowalewitz
Charleys Tante/ Thomas
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2023 (+Revival 2024)
D: Marc Becker
Ml: Daniel Strahilevitz
L'isola d`Alcina/ Gazzaniga
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2022/ Schwetzingen Festspiele 2022
D: Christoph von Bernuth
Ml: Vito Cristofaro, Reinar Ehrhardt
Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci/ Mascagni, Leoncavallo
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2022 (+Revival 2023)
D: Dietrich Hilsdorf
Ml: Hendrik Vestmann, Vito Cristofaro
Die spanische Stunde/ Gianni Schicchi/ Ravel, Puccini
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2021
D: Tobias Ribitzki
Ml: Hendrik Vestmann
Les Boréades/ Rameau
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2021
D: Christoph von Bernuth
Ml: Alexis Kossenko, Felix Pätzold
Orpheus und die Zauberharfe/ von Bernuth, Twiehaus
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2020
D: Christoph von Bernuth
Ml: Felix Pätzold
Don Pasquale/ Donizetti
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2020
D: Christoph von Bernuth
Ml: Vito Cristofaro
Flight/ Dove
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2018
D: Kobie van Rensburg
Ml: Felix Pätzold
(Cancelled due to Covid/ Covidabsage im Probenprozess)
Un Ballo in Maschera/ Verdi
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2018
D: Rodula Gaitano
Ml: Hendrik Vestmann
Venus und Dido/ Dido and Aeneas/ Blow and Purcell
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater 2018
D: Tobias Ribitzki
Ml: Thomas Böhnisch
Der Teufel auf Erden/ Suppe
Theater Chemnitz 2019 (revival 2019)
D: Hinrich Horstkotte
Ml: Jakob Brenner
Die Zauberflöte/ Mozart
Theater Chemnitz 2018 (2019 revival)
D: Michael Schilhahn
Ml: Jakob Brenner
Amleto/ Faccio
Theater Chemnitz 2018
D: Olivier Tambosi
Ml: Gerrit Prießnitz
Die Walküre/ Wagner
Theater Chemnitz 2018
D: Monique Wagemakers
ML: Felix Bender, Guillermo Garcia Calvo
Emil und die Detektive/ Schubring
Theater Chemnitz 2017
D: Michael Schilhan
ML: Jakob Brenner
Hochzeit mit Hindernissen/ Lambert and Morrison
Theater Chemnitz 2017
D: Stefan Huber
ML: Jakob Brenner