Critics
have had this to say about American Soprano, Melody Alesi: "Alesi takes the stage
with style and intelligence and possesses a distinctive
voice and the charisma of a world class opera star" (The Desert Sun, February 18th 2003)
 A
native New Yorker, Melody Alesi studied voice primarily
with her mother, Sandra Alesi, and subsequently, Arthur
Spinetti.
The daughter of two professional singers, Ms Alesi was
already playing leading roles in musical comedy by the
age of 15, while also studying ballet and modern dance.
By age 17, she served as choreographer for the Boris
Goldofsky Opera.
Just returning from a triumphant
debut with the Hong Kong Opera in the
role of Marguerite (Faust) under the direction of Maestro David Stern, (son of Isaac Stern),
Ms. Alesi made her operatic debut in the role of Adele
(Die Fledermaus). Some of her roles include Gilda (Rigoletto),
Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Violetta (La Traviata),
Luisa Miller (Luisa Miller), Mimi (La Boheme), Susanna
(Le Nozze di Figaro), Norina (Don Pasquale), Adina (L'Elisir
D'amore) and Micaela (Carmen).
In August 2006, Ms. Alesi was
a winner of the Altamura/Enrico Caruso International
Vocal Competition. She is also a two time recipient
of the Licia Albanese/Puccini Foundation Scholarship making her Alice Tully Hall debut.
Other Awards include the The Center for Contemporary
Opera, The Gerda Lissner Foundation and The
Joyce Dukta Award (1st place: 2006).
Ms. Alesi was a Young Artist with
Bel Canto at Caramoor and sang the title role in excerpts
from Verdi’s Luisa Miller under the direction
of Maestro Will Crutchfield.
That same year, she also made her debut with the Center
for Contemporary Opera under the direction of Mark
Shapiro in the world premiere of Cheri,
creating the role of Edmae, an opera based on the Colette
novel.
 Ms.Alesi
is equally at home as a recitalist and has been invited
numerous times to sing at Caramoor joined by Composer/Pianist Joseph Turrin. Ms. Alesi
and Mr. Turrin are also in the process of producing
their first CD.
Ms. Alesi is a regular on the
roster for the Mozart Festival Opera singing the role of Donna Anna, and also for Teatro
Lirico D'Europa, singing the roles Gilda and Violetta.
This year, Ms. Alesi returns
to Teatro Lirico D’Europa for
their 2006 winter tour in the title role of Lucia di
Lammermoor.
In February of 2007,she will make her debut with the Tampa Bay Opera in Anton Coppola’s opera
Sacco and Vanzetti in which she will portray
three of the major characters , Lucia Mancini, Edna
St. Vincent Millay and Luigia Vanzetti.
OPERA
* indicates upcoming performance |
| LA TRAVIATA |
New Rochelle Opera |
Violetta |
June 2009 |
| Sacco and
Vanzetti* |
Lucia Vanzetti |
Opera Tampa |
2/2007 |
| Don Giovanni* |
Donna Anna |
Mozart Festival Opera |
3/2007 |
| Rigoletto* |
Gilda |
Teatro Lirico D’Europa |
10/2006 |
| Lucia di Lammermoor* |
Lucia |
Teatro Lirico D’Europa |
10/2006 |
| La Traviata |
Violetta |
Teatro Lirico D’Europa |
4/2006 |
| Lucia di Lammermoor |
Lucia |
Teatro Lirico D’Europa |
2/2006 |
| La Traviata |
Violetta |
Altamura Opera Festival |
8/2005 |
| Faust (Gounod) |
Marguerite |
Hong Kong Opera |
9/2004 |
| Lucia di Lammermoor |
Lucia |
NJ State Repertory Opera |
4/2004 |
| Lucia di Lammermoor |
Lucia |
Treasure Coast Opera |
1/2004 |
| La Traviata |
Violetta |
Wichita Grand Opera |
3/2004 |
| Rigoletto |
Gilda |
Syracuse Opera |
3/2003 |
| Rigoletto |
Gilda |
Teatro Lirico D'Europa |
2003 Winter Tour |
| Don Giovanni |
Donna Anna |
Mozart Festival Opera |
4/2003 |
| Carmen |
Micaela |
New Rochelle Opera |
10/2002 |
| Le Nozze di Figaro |
Susanna |
NJ State Repertory Opera |
5/2001 |
| Cheri |
Edmee |
Center for Contemporary
Opera |
5/2001 |
| Luisa Miller |
Luisa |
Bel Canto at Caramoor |
7/2001 |
| L'Elisir D'Amore |
Adina |
Little Opera of New
Jersey |
5/2001 |
| La Boheme |
Mimi |
New York Concert Opera |
12/2001 |
| Rigoletto |
Gilda |
N. J. Assoc. of Verismo
Opera |
4/1999 |
| Don Pasquale |
Norina |
Regina Opera |
10/1999 |
| ROLES IN PREPARATION |
| Romeo and Juliet |
Juliet |
| Manon |
Manon (Massenet) |
| Tales of Hoffman |
Olympia/Antonia |
| ORATORIO |
| Faure Requiem |
One World Symphony |
| Vivaldi Gloria |
One World Symphony |
| Faure Requiem |
Bay Area Symphony |
| Carmina Burana |
New York Choral Society |
| Schubert Mass in G |
Lehman College Symphony |
Haydn Lord Nelson Mass
|
Lehman College Symphony |
| Bach B Minor Mass (Excerpts) |
Lehman College Symphony |
| Mozart's Regina Coeli |
Richmond Choral Society |
| Brahms Requiem |
New York Choral Society |
| Bach Magnificat |
Lehman College Symphony |
| Haydn Paukenmesse |
New York Choral Society |
| |
|
| |
|
| CONCERTS/ORCHESTRAL ENGAGEMENTS: |
| One World Symphony |
Bachianas Brasileiras |
| Licia Albanese/Puccini Foundation |
Alice Tully Hall |
| Bronx Symphony |
Songs of the Auvergne #1 |
| Bronx Symphony |
Bach Cantata #51 (Jauchzet Gott) |
| New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble |
Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate |
| Monterey County Symphony |
Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 |
| Enrico Caruso Museum Opera Gala |
Merkin Concert Hall |
| AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS |
| IX Altamura/Caruso
International Vocal Competition |
2006 |
| Joyce Dukta Artist Foundation 1st prize |
2006 |
| Center for Contemporary Opera: Finalist |
2004 |
| The Gerda Lissner Foundation Finalist |
1999 |
| Licia Albanese/Puccini Foundation Scholarship
Recipient |
1997 |
| Sergio Franchi Foundation for the Arts Scholarship
Recipient: |
1997 |
| SOLO RECITALS |
Barge Music,
NYC "The Art of Song"
Performing Artists Showcase at Caramoor
Festival of the Arts at Mohonk |
| EDUCATION |
| Formal:
|
Brooklyn College BA |
| Voice: |
Sandra Giambalvo, Arturo Spinetti |
| Young Artist’s Program: |
Bel Canto at Caramoor |
| Conductors: |
Will Crutchfield, Anton Coppola, David Stern,
Lyndon Woodside, Mark Shapiro, Metodi Matakiev,
Gianpaulo Bracali, Krasimir Topolov, Joseph Turrin,
Jack Daly Goodwin, Vincent La Selva |
Coaches:
|
Will Crutchfield, Licia Albanese,
William Hicks, David Leighton, Thomas Bagwell |
| Master Classes: |
Licia Albanese, Will Crutchfield |
| Audition Skills/Dramatic Skills: |
Richard Crittendon, Janet Bookspan |
| |
|
SPECIAL SKILLS
Trained in Ballet and Modern Dance
|
|
REVIEWS
‘It was young American
soprano Melody Alesi, making her Teatro Lirico debut
as Gilda, who received the most applause….Alesi
takes the stage with style and intelligence and possesses
the voice of a world-class opera star’
The Desert Sun,
Palm Springs
‘Soprano Melody Alesi won
the audiences’ heart as Rigoletto’s daughter’Caro
nome calls for transparent, virtuoso singing and that’s
what Alesi gives it…..”
The Post-Standard, Rochester,
NY
‘Clear notes and bell-like
tone… This kind of singing occurred every time
Ms. Alesi was on stage…And she seems to have that
‘star’ quality that promises much for the
future.
Gary Morris, Boro Park Community
News
‘A standing room audience
responded to Ms. Alesi with an ovation reserved only
for those who make this kind of vocal and theatrical
magic. Hers is a career to watch. !’
Bergen News
‘Ms. Alesi was a sparkling,
truly romantic Norina, who soared in florid coloratura!
What a singer! What an actress!
Sunset News, Tom Lenihan
‘Soprano Melody Alesi offered
the audience an appealingly plaintive account of Verdi’s
Caro nome”.
Allen Kozinn, The New York
Times
‘An enthusiastic standing
ovation was given to Ms. Melody Alesi, prize winner
of the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation.’
Bill Zacharisan, Westsider
‘Ms. Alesi has become known
for her uniquely haunting timbre. It is a voice filed
with pathos and a potpourri of color.’
‘Indeed Ms. Alesi’s
‘Deh Vieni’ in first act of ‘Le Nozze’
would have made Mozart forget his first Susanna for
whom he wrote the aria…’
Nino Pantano Comm.News
|
