Melissa Givens American soprano Melissa Givens has been resoundingly praised by audiences and critics alike for her rich, liquid tone; intelligent, musical interpretations; as well her expressiveness and elegance on the stage. Hailed as a singer whose music making is “consistently rewarding” and “a pleasure to hear,” Givens is also an extremely versatile artist, regularly performing repertoire from the Baroque era through music of the 21st century. A performance of Bach’s St. John Passion, led Charles Ward of the Houston Chronicle to proclaim, “Soprano Melissa Givens was the best, singing with effortless tone and gracious musicality;” while the Austin American-Statesman’s David Mead marveled that Givens sang A German Requiem “like the angelic voice that Brahms probably imagined as he composed it.” Her Texas premiere of Baruch by San Francisco based composer Daniel David Feinsmith was a highlight of her concert with barmusic, a Houston based chamber music group devoted to music of the last fifty years, bringing the audience to its feet at the work’s conclusion. Recent appearances, including the C Minor Mass of Mozart with the Victoria Bach Festival and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Berkshire Choral Festival, both with conductor Craig Hella Johnson, drew enthusiastic notices. A performance of Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder in a return engagement with the Texas Ballet Theater and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra prompted the Dallas Morning News’ Dana Gavin Frank to say that “[the dancer’s] seraphic acrobatics were a physical realization of soprano Melissa Givens’ heavenly voice.” Other appearances include a beautifully received turn as soloist in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion for the Bach Society of Houston and Donna Anna in the Houston Ebony Opera Guild’s 2004 production of Don Giovanni. That year she also essayed the title role in the staged Ars Lyrica Houston production of Alessandro Scarlatti’s oratorio La Giuditta under the direction of American harpsichordist and musicologist Matthew Dirst who praised her as having “the perfect baroque voice.” Ms. Givens remains in demand on concert series throughout the United States, including recent recitals in Austin, Houston and Buffalo. A champion of collaborative musical endeavors, she performs with various chamber music groups as well as the nationally acclaimed ensemble Conspirare. Her solo appearance on their recent Clarion Records release, requiem: we are so lightly here, was favorably noted in the Austin Chronicle. She can also be heard on her solo compact disc, let the rain kiss you, available at www.melissagivens.com.
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