Nicholas Lens is a Belgian composer of contemporary music, particularly known for his operas. His work is published by Schott Music, Mute Ltd. and distributed by Universal Music and Sony BMG.

He wrote the opera Slow Man with the author John M. Coetzee as librettist. Slow Man premiered at the Malta Festival, Grand Opera Theatre Poznan 2012. As the friendship with J. M. Coetzee became stronger they wrote a second opera together Elisabeth Costello (this body that I am) and they currently work on a third opera on Dostojevski called The Master of Petersburg.

Schott Music published a series of works by Lens amongst the Latin trilogy The Accacha Chronicles (Flamma Flamma, Terra Terra, Amor Aeternus), the chamber work The Puppet Designer and Orrori del’Amore and study books for piano (100 études et phrases tonales simples) as well for double bas (Venticinque movimenti per contrabbasso solo).

Besides composing Lens did write and direct the film Love is the only master I’ll serve which premiered at the Biff, NY.

Lens divides his time between Brussels and Venezia.

The opera Shell Shock with librettist Nick Cave has been published by Mute Ltd. and is distributed on cd by Universal Music. Shell Shock premiered at The Royal Opera House La Monnaie in Brussels.