Leigh Melrose

Leigh Melrose Baritone

Biography

Leigh Melrose is a specialist of 20^th century opera, be it on stage or in concert. He recently performed the title role of Wozzeck and sang the roles of Ruprecht (The Fiery Angel) at the Zurich Opera, and Alberich (Das Rheingold) under the baton of Teodor Currentzis at the Ruhrtriennale. His other roles include Stolzius (Zimmermann’s Die Soldaten), Sir Robert Cecil (Britten’s Gloriana) and the Traveller (Death in Venice) at the Teatro Real in Madrid; Smith Smee (Schreker’s Der Schmied von Gent) in Antwerp; Nekrotzar (Le Grand Macabre) in Zurich, and Golaud (Pelléas et Mélisande) at the Ruhrtriennale and the Flanders Opera. He also sang the title role of Wozzeck at the English National Opera, the Royal Festival Hall, and the Landestheater in Salzburg. He performed in the world premiere productions of Olga Neuwirt’s Orlando at the Vienna Staatsoper, Fin de partie at Milan’s La Scala, Kats-Chernin’s Whiteley in Sydney, Dai Fujikura’s Solaris at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Johannes Kalitzke’s Die Besessenen at the Theater an der Wien, Elliot Carter’s On Conversing with Paradise at the Aldeburgh Festival, Luca Francesconi’s Quartet at the Royal Opera House in London, Evan MacMillan’s The Sacrifice at the Welsh National Opera, and Ryan Wigglesworth’s The Winter’s Tale at the English national Opera. He made his debut at the Maggio Musicale fiorentino in Wolfgang Rihm’s Der Maler träumt. He also performed the title role in Birtwistle’s Gawain with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Matthias Pintscher’s Songs from Solomon’s Garden with the Ensemble Intercontemporain.