Heidi Melton, an acclaimed American dramatic soprano, is celebrated as a leading voice in Wagnerian opera, often hailed as “the Wagnerian voice we have been waiting for since Flagstad and Nilsson” by La Presse. Her career is marked by a series of notable performances across prestigious international stages and with renowned orchestras.
In the 24/25 season, Heidi will debut at Teatro La Fenice in a new staged production of Erwartung and at Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra for Der fliegende Holländer (Senta). Additional recent performances include debuts at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in concert performances of Cavalleria rusticana (Santuzza) conducted by James Gaffigan, Minnesota Orchestra for Erwartung and return to Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya for Erwartung, both conducted by Eun Sun Kim.
The previous season was equally impressive, featuring her highly anticipated debut at Seattle Opera as Isolde in Tristan und Isolde. On the concert stage, she collaborated with Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya in Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder, performed Wagner selections with the New World Symphony, and appeared with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic for Beethoven’s Egmont. She returned to the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra for Le grand macabre as Mescalina and to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for Act II of Tristan und Isolde under Karina Canellakis.
Heidi Melton’s career is filled with significant milestones. She debuted with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in Die Walküre (Sieglinde) and also performed with the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra. Additional highlights included returns to the Badische Staatskapelle for Erwartung and Deutsche Oper Berlin for Hänsel und Gretel. She debuted at Opernhaus Zürich for Le grand macabre and returned to Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe for Götterdämmerung after receiving critical acclaim for her performances in Der Ring des Nibelungen.
Ms. Melton’s international presence extends to engagements with prominent orchestras and opera houses. She has performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the Tonkünstler Orchestra in Vienna and appeared in New York City for a recital with the George London Foundation. Her collaborations include performances with the London Symphony Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic in Ligeti’s Le grand macabre conducted by Simon Rattle. She returned to the Hong Kong Philharmonic for Siegfried, which was recorded for Naxos, debuted at Houston Grand Opera in Götterdämmerung, and recorded Tristan und Isolde with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra. One of her notable achievements was her debut with the Vienna Philharmonic, performing the “Immolation Scene” from Götterdämmerung under Valery Gergiev at the Musikverein in Vienna and Carnegie Hall in New York. She also debuted with the New York Philharmonic in Strauss Lieder and Die Walküre under Alan Gilbert, and with the Dallas Symphony in a complete concert performance of Die Walküre under Jaap van Zweden. She made her Italian debut under Kirill Petrenko with Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI in Torino in Götterdämmerung and appeared at the BBC Proms in Tannhäuser with Donald Runnicles and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to her orchestral engagements, Ms. Melton has performed with various opera companies worldwide. She debuted at The Metropolitan Opera in Elektra under Fabio Luisi and made her role debut as Sieglinde in San Francisco Opera’s production of Der Ring des Nibelungen conducted by Donald Runnicles. Her repertoire includes performances at Opéra National de Bordeaux in Ariadne auf Naxos, Tannhäuser, and Un ballo in maschera, as well as her debut with North Carolina Opera in Tristan und Isolde.
AUGUST 2024
