MELANIE SANDERS
Mezzo-Soprano
October 2016
Melanie travels to Strasbourg with London Voices to perform Steve Reich's Tehillim, set to Psalms 19, 34, 18 and 150
for four female soloists and orchestra.
French cross-century specialists Les Siècles and their conductor François-Xavier Roth present Tehillim paired with Bach's Magnificat, showcasing two great works of praise.
© Guillaume Chauvin
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July 2016
At the magical location of The Minack Theatre on the cliffs of Porthcurno in Cornwall,
Surrey Opera present Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Melanie is thrilled to be making her full role debut as Hermia, who is neither little nor low...
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June 2016
Melanie joins London Voices and Les Siècles to perform Bach's Magnificat at Snape Maltings at the Aldeburgh Festival
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Jan 2016 Reviews for Carmen on tour
The Reviews Hub.com: 'Emily-Jane Thomas and Melanie Sanders, as Frasquita and Mercedes, are as memorable apart as they are together, bouncing off each other perfectly and with attitude to boot, they sing their way into your affections and provide everything needed to make the connection with the characters and story unfolding.'
Oxford Playhouse
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Jan-Feb 2016
Carmen goes on tour after receiving excellent reviews for its 2015 run at the Soho Theatre.
Melanie will reprise the role of Mércèdes in Coventry, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Bury St Edmunds and London,
with further dates to be announced. See Engagements for details.
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Critial reception for OperaUpClose's Carmen
@ Soho Theatre, August - September 2015
The Stage: '...a strong-voiced, tight-knit cast that fully commits to the drama'
Time Out: '...great character acting from supporting principals – Emily-Jane Thomas and Melanie Sanders, as factory girls Frasquita and Mercedes, make a great turn at getting drunk'
The Guardian: '...Norton-Hale draws committed performances from a cast that is uniformly strong vocally'
A Younger Theatre: '...a scene of drunkenness is played very energetically by the excellent cast.'
Sunday Express: '...Emily-Jane Thomas and Melanie Sanders are delightfully ditzy as Carmen’s pals'
Click here for full reviews
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April 2015
The Blank Canvas wins Best Opera Production at the 2015 Offies - OffWestEnd.com Awards
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As Lucy in The Blank Canvas, OperaUpClose, September 2014
The Guardian: ‘Melanie Sanders evokes the artist's confusion as she tries to hold on to the past while being dragged towards an uncertain future' ****
The Stage: 'Sanders displays a wide spectrum of vocal colour as well as credibly playing an absorbed artist facing a distressing condition'
Broadway World: ‘Melanie Sanders(’) singing never less than demonstrating a mind that is sliding but not yet out of control. Her voice is a delight, the aural equivalent of the paintings we never see’
BachTrack: ‘Melanie Sanders plays Lucy with supreme poise, keeping her emotions understated and realistic, singing with smooth strength. Sanders’ focus on her character ensures we stay with Lucy… her final determination to adapt to her blindness, and embrace a new future, is inspiring.’
Fringe Opera: ‘Mezzo-soprano Melanie Sanders as Lucy provokes great sympathy, modestly pottering around in her splattered overalls…’
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As Ino in Semele, Hampstead Garden Opera, 2011
Framescourer: 'Melanie Sanders has the vocal-dramatic balance exactly right, integrating her performance and keeping her acting simple and focused. It makes for a very affecting stretch'
Bachtrack: 'Mezzo Melanie Sanders as [Semele's] cereal-munching younger sister displayed real tenderness in 'Turn, hopeless lover'
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As Drummer Girl in The Emperor of Atlantis, Dioneo, 2011
Musical Criticism: "Melanie Sanders gave an honourable performance... deserving [of a] flourishing future career"