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
“…it was an evening of powerful voices; for example, the earth mother Erda, sung by Melissa Zgouridi, [was] very touching."
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ANKE SCHAEFER (SR2 KULTURRADIO)
Das Rheingold | Saarländisches Staatstheater
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
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
INTERVIEW
A Singer Who Loves Versatility: Mezzo-soprano Melissa Zgouridi thrills critics & audiences alike at the Saarbrücken State Theater
SAARBRÜCKER ZEITUNG
Kerstin Krämer| 23 December 2021 | Translated from German