SOPRANO

Selected to sing Brünnhilde Der Ring des Nibelungen in Seattle Opera’s bicententary Cycles in 2013, Awyn Mellor received outstanding reviews for her début performances as Chrysothemis Elektra opposite Susan Bullock for the Canadian Opera Company in 2007, Opera Magazine writing that she “…recalled none other than Leonie Rysanek.” Her return to the role in 2008 with Opera North, again opposite Susan Bullock, led to The Guardian describing her as “…the superlative Chrysothemis...”, whilst The Sunday Times described her as a “thrilling, sensuous Chrysothemis.”

Equally adept in the Italian repertoire, she received high praise for her recent performances as Adalgisa Norma for English Touring Opera (“…superbly sung by Alwyn Mellor…” wrote The Observer), makes her début in the title role of Tosca with the Opéra de Limoges in Spring 2010, a role she then repeats for Welsh National Opera, and sings the Verdi Requiem for Huddersfield Choral Society and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vassily Petrenko in October 2010. In November 2009, she appears with Susan Gritton, under the auspices of Grange Park Opera, in Two Sopranos and a Symphony at Cadogan Hall, London, singing the Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, and makes her début as Brünnhilde Die Walküre for Longborough Festival Opera in Summer 2010. In Summer 2011, she makes her début as Isolde Tristan und Isolde for Grange Park Opera, a role that she covered for London’s Royal Opera in Autumn 2009, and in Summer 2012, she makes her début as Sieglinde Die Walküre for Opera North. In 2012 / 2013, her engagements currently further include Minnie La Fanciulla del West for Opera North and Ortlinde Die Walküre for the Royal Opera, London.

Born in Lancashire, Alwyn Mellor studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, and supported by the Peter Moores Foundation in Italy and Russia. She began her career at Welsh National Opera, with whom she has enjoyed a fruitful collaboration in a wide range of roles. She has sung three seasons at Santa Fe Opera and other opera companies with whom she has appeared include the Canadian Opera Company, English National Opera, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Opera Ireland and Opera North.

In concert, Alwyn Mellor has appeared with orchestras including the BBC Concert Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the CBSO, the Hallé, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Manchester Camerata, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at venues such as the Cardiff, Edinburgh and Three Choirs Festivals, as well as internationally with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, the Orchestre National de Lyon, the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, the Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy, the Orquesta Simfonica de Barcelona, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia. Conductors with whom she has worked include Martin André, Howard Arman, Mark Elder, Richard Hickox, Christopher Hogwood, Emmanuel Krivine, Charles Mackerras, Marc Minkowski, Nicholas McGegan, Antonio Pappano, Victor Pablo Pérez, Donald Runnicles, Gerard Schwarz and Mark Wigglesworth.

Recent engagements have included the title role in La Wally, Santuzza Cavalleria Rusticana and Elettra Idomeneo for Chelsea Opera Group, Ariadne Ariadne auf Naxos for Opera Ireland, Senta Der fliegende Holländer and Bronwen in Errollyn Wallen’s Carbon 12 for Welsh National Opera, Venus Tannhäuser with Susan Bullock and Richard Berkeley-Steele conducted by Richard Hickox at the St Endellion Festival, Hummel Mass in D and Mozart Concert Arias with the BBC Philharmonic and A German Romantic Evening (Excerpts from Fidelio and Die Walküre - Act 1) for Longborough Festival Opera.

Please note that this biography is not to be used for programmes. Current information is available on request.