MELISSA ZGOURIDI
MEZZO-SOPRANO
BIOGRAPHY
Hailed for her “enchantingly beautiful mezzo, strong characterization & [voice] full of colors” (Saarbrücker Zeitung), Melissa Zgouridi, is quickly making a name for herself both in Europe and in her native USA. The young Brazilian-American-Chinese singer recently joined the ensemble of the Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken, Germany. Whilst there she has performed the 3rd Weird Sister in the German premiere of Pascal Dusapin’s Macbeth Underworld, Ruggiero in Alcina, Dryade in Ariadne auf Naxos, and Mercédès in Carmen. In addition to her productions at the theater, Melissa recently performed Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder with ensemble KONTRASTE under the baton of Maestro Jac van Steen in Nürnberg and appeared as the Guest Alumni Soloist in Symphony of Dreams at the Musco Center for the Arts. Ms. Zgouridi also took on the role of Ruggiero in Alcina with Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern.
Zgouridi continues her tenure at Saarländisches Staatstheater this season from the previous, performing the title role of Carmen, Erda in Das Rheingold, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Flora in La Traviata, as well as Laertes in the World Premiere of Sarah Nemtsov’s Ophelia. Future seasons see her debut with Theater Dortmund, Opéra Comique, and Stadttheater Klagenfurt. [read more...]
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"With her passionate interpretation & remarkable technique, she achieved by far the greatest success." – DAS OPERNGLAS
Alcina, Saarländisches Staatstheater – "The young mezzo-soprano Melissa Zgouridi, who has been a member of the Saarbrücken ensemble since 2021, shines as Ruggiero, actually a castrato role. The pants role is one of the most beautiful & demanding Handel roles ever. Zgouridi's darkly colored voice has expression, character, substance. With her passionate interpretation & remarkable technique, she achieved by far the greatest success."
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"...an enchantingly beautiful mezzo, strong characterization, warm, full of colors..." – SAARBRÜCKER ZEITUNG
Alcina, Saarländisches Staatstheater – "And then the voices: In this production, they almost deliver an overabundance of good sound…& then especially Melissa Zgouridi [with] an enchantingly beautiful mezzo, strong characterization, warm, full of colors. If you heard her as Ruggiero, in this trouser role, the possible casting of the part with a countertenor would seem almost absurd."
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"...an attractive & ample voice..." – BECKMESSER.COM
57th International Tenor Viñas Competition, Gran Teatre del Liceu – "The American mezzo-soprano, Melissa Zgouridi, winner of the 5th prize, sang “Olga’s Aria” from Eugene Onegin & the “Air des Lettres” from Werther by Massenet. The impression was positive with an attractive & ample voice that is well managed.”
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"...warm, distinctive timbre & heartfelt interpretation..." – DREHPUNKTKULTUR.AT
St. Matthew Passion, BachWerkVokal Salzburg – "The alto [soloist], Melissa Zgouridi, captivated the audience with her warm, distinctive timbre & heartfelt interpretation."
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"...here is a future Verdi singer..." – NORD24
Gala Concert, International Opera Academy – "Melissa Zgouridi flooded listeners with her rich, incandescent tones...here is a future Verdi singer.."