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“So integral is Alesi’s fusion of voice and character, she makes Violetta’s emotions inhabit us as our own…defiant coloratura and  vocal line that  paint seamless as watercolor”
Saugerties Post Star 9/29/2010

"Melody brought a remarkably consummate skill to the role of Violetta. She not only possesses a lovely, lyrical voice, but is a truly talented actress."
- Anton Coppola


       
"I saw something special in her a few years back. I knew she could sing then but now she is truly a singer - a singer with feeling - something I don't hear anymore in this day. She goes someplace else and takes the audience with her. This is what I did. She has everything that a great star must have, and in the role of Violetta - a role I have sung more than any other - in this role she made me cry."
- Licia Albanese

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 com by the age of 15, while also studying ballet and modern dance. By age 17, she served as choreographer for the Boris Goldofsky Opera.

In a triumphant debut with the Hong Kong Opera, Ms. Alesi sang the role of Marguerite (Faust) under the direction of Maestro David Stern, (son of Isaac Stern).
Her signature roles include Gilda (Rigoletto), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Violetta (La Traviata). Other roles include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) Luisa Miller (Luisa Miller), Mimi (La Boheme), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Norina (Don Pasquale), Adina (L'Elisir D'amore) and Micaela (Carmen).

Ms. Alesi is a two time recipient of the Licia Albanese/Puccini Foundation Scholarship. It was at this time that she made her Alice Tully Hall debut at the winner‘s concert.

She is a winner of the Altamura/Enrico Caruso International Vocal Competition. Other Awards include the The Center for Contemporary Opera, The Gerda Lissner Foundation and The Joyce Dukta Award.

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 where she is joined by her accompanist, composer Joseph Turrin.

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.

Her debut with theTampa Opera inAnton Coppola’s Sacco and Vanzetti received critical acclaim for her portrayal of  three of the major characters , Lucia Mancini, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Luigia Vanzetti

This year, Ms. Alesi returns to Teatro Lirico  D’Europa for their 2011 winter tour in the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor.
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OPERA PERFORMANCES
Lucia di Lammermoor               
Lucia                
Teatro Lirico d'Europa
Sacco and Vanzetti                             
Luigia Vanzetti     
  Tampa Opera          
Rigoletto                                                          
Gilda
Gold Coast Opera
Lucia di Lammermoor                                              
Lucia Teatro Lirico D’Europa           
La Traviata                                                        
Violetta
  L’ Opera de Martinique           
La Traviata                                                        
Violetta
Altamura Opera Festival
Faust (Gounod)                                              
Marguerite
Hong Kong Opera
Lucia di Lammermoor                                              
Lucia
NJ State Repertory Opera
Lucia di Lammermoor                                              
Lucia
Treasure Coast Opera           
La Traviata                                              
Violetta
Wichita Grand Opera
Rigoletto                                                         
Gilda
  Syracuse Opera
Rigoletto                                                          
Gilda
Teatro Lirico D'Europa
Don Giovanni                                           
Donna Anna   
Mozart Festival Opera           
Carmen                                                                  
Micaela    
New Rochelle Opera           
Le Nozze di Figaro                                  
Susanna
NJ State Repertory Opera

Cheri                                                                              

Edmee
Center for Contemporary Opera                  
Luisa Miller                                                          
Luisa
Bel Canto at Caramoor           
L'Elisir D'Amore                                           
Adina   
Little Opera of New Jersey
La Boheme                                                     
Mimi     
New York Concert Opera
Rigoletto                                                          
Gilda
N. J. Assoc. of Verismo Opera
Don Pasquale                                                          
Norina
Regina Opera           

 

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:s 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

Hans Spengler Artists Management , Inc
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