2020 VIÑAS COMPETITION
"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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JOSÉ M. IRURZUN (BECKMESSER.COM)
Winner's Concert | 57th Tenor Viñas Competition | Gran Teatre del Liceu
"Melissa Zgouridi, the fifth prize [winner], performed Olga from Eugene Onegin & Charlotte from Werther [with] an exceptional voice & velvety timbre."
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DANI CORTÉS (BARCELONA CLÀSICA)
Winner's Concert | 57th Tenor Viñas Competition | Gran Teatre del Liceu
"In the performance of the third award-winning mezzo, the American Melissa Zgouridi (Fifth Prize), highlighted her dramatic instinct in the Werther Letter Aria, by Massenet"
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JAVIER PÉREZ SENZ (EL PAÍS)
Winner's Concert | 57th Tenor Viñas Competition | Gran Teatre del Liceu
DAS RHEINGOLD
AT VERSAILLES
“Finally, Flosshilde by Melissa Zgouridi -who is also performing Erda this evening-, with a broad, velvety and powerful timbre, stands out particularly for the clarity of her vowels as well as the length of her sentences. In the final scene, the lyricism of its range as well as the constancy of its projection and the intensity of its vibrato in the treble are particularly noticeable. -
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AXEL DRIFFORT | OLYRIX
Das Rheingold | Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles
“[Hiroshi Matsui] will be heard in Dusapin's 'Macbeth Underworld' next season at Salle Favart alongside Melissa Zgouridi, [a] powerful American-Chinese-Brazilian mezzo-soprano [who sang] Erda and Floßhilde…her interventions [were] tinted with amber colors and projected with fullness, make a strong impression.” -
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ERIC GIBERT | ODB OPERA
Das Rheingold | Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles
RUGGIERO
"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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M. FIEDLER (DAS OPERNGLAS)
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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OLIVER SCHWAMBACH (SAARBRÜCKER ZEITUNG)
Alcina | Saarländisches Staatstheater
“Ruggiero was sung by Melissa Zgouridi in the premiere. [This is] a role that demands enormous strength & needs the vocal security that Zgouridi brings, along [with her] vibrant tone.”
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FRIEDRICH SPANGEMACHER (OPUS KULTURMAGAZINE)
Alcina | Saarländisches Staatstheater
"Melissa Zgouridi [embodied] the different moods of Ruggiero, who acts as if drugged, convincingly & with a beautiful sound.”
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KOSTANZA FÜHRLBECK (DIE RHEINPFALZ)
Alcina | Saarländisches Staatstheater
ERDA
"One must indeed wait for Melissa Zgouridi’s sublime alto, her appearance as Erda, but when she sings, a sonorous voice pours out & enchants the ear. When this earth mother speaks & sings, even Wotan, father of the gods, takes two steps back.”
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OLIVER SCHWAMBACH (SAARBRÜCKER ZEITUNG)
Das Rheingold | Saarländisches Staatstheater
“Zgouridi as Erda is positively spellbinding with her grandiose voice.”
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OLIVER SANDMEYER (SAARTEXT: OPERNKRITIK)
Das Rheingold | Saarländisches Staatstheater
“[Melissa Zgouridi’s] Erda…captivating in both acting & singing.”
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ROLAND H. DIPPEL (OPER!)
Das Rheingold | Saarländisches Staatstheater
“What quickly strikes you is the latent aggression of almost all the protagonists, who only receive a gush of warmth with the appearance of Erda in a garden paradise. She, Melissa Zgouridi, was also especially applauded at the end. [Zgouridi] has long since become a crowd favorite in Saarbrücken.”
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FRIEDRICH SPANGEMACHER (OPUS KULTURMAGAZIN)
Das Rheingold | Saarländisches Staatstheater
“…the Wagner performance in Saarbrücken [is] on a remarkable level...in addition, Melissa Zgouridi, delivers a terrific Erda with a sonorous, deep-timbered mezzo-soprano."
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K. SCHARFFENBERGER (DAS OPERNGLAS)
Das Rheingold | Saarländisches Staatstheater
CONCERTS
"Melissa Zgouridi flooded listeners with her rich, incandescent tones...here is a future Verdi singer."
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NORD24
Concert Review | Bremerhaven, Germany
"The alto [soloist], Melissa Zgouridi, captivated the audience with her warm, distinctive timbre & heartfelt interpretation."
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DREHPUNKTKULTUR.AT
St. Matthew Passion | Salzburg, Austria
"Especially impressive was the singing of the alto [soloist], Melissa Zgouridi."
DE NIEUSBODE.NL
Petite messe solennelle | Toonkunstkoor Zeist, The Netherlands