Critical Praise for Melissa Givens
". . . the soulfulness of the singing can take your breath away, as when Melissa Givens' soprano wings elegiacally above the low, sustained tones of the choir. . . " Robert Faires, AustinChronicle.com, Spring, 2005 "Houston soprano Melissa Givens, performing the treacherous solo in the fifth movement [of Brahms’ A German Requiem], sounded like the angelic voice that Brahms probably imagined as he composed it." David Mead, Austin American-Statesman, July, 2003 "Givens sang with radiance…" Charles Ward, Houston Chronicle, June, 2003 "The performance by the Fort Worth Symphony, conductor Leanna Sterios and soprano Melissa Evelyn Givens equaled the dancing on stage in its excellence. Givens turned in a captivating rendition of this glorious but very challenging late romantic song cycle." Wayne Lee Gay, Fort World Star-Telegram, February, 2003 "Soprano Melissa Givens brought her simple, appealing artistry to O Holy Night and Pietro Yan’s [sic] Gesu Bambino." Charles Ward, Houston Chronicle, December, 2002 ". . . set to the Wesendonk Songs of Richard Wagner (superbly sung from the orchestra pit by soprano Melissa Givens), it offered 11 dancers in duet, trio and quartet combinations. . . " Raymond Stults, The Moscow Times, November, 2002 "Fortunately, Simpson and Dirst chose soprano Melissa Givens to sing Dido. With a simple spirit, elegant presence and excellent singing, she created a soft but cutting image of a woman torn up by love." Charles Ward, Houston Chronicle, 2002 April "Soprano Melissa Givens was once more a pleasure to hear. Her simple, elegant singing was the highlight of the Haydn mass." Charles Ward, Houston Chronicle, 2002 October "… [Her] c.d. is a gorgeous, tasteful, smart and heartfelt example in the art of singing. … But the thing that impresses me the most about this recording is the integrity that seeps through Ms. Givens’ mellifluous and resonant soprano. … Ms. Givens is a name to remember, her rendition of 'If music be the food of love' by Henry Purcell is an example of a voice in its prime. Ms. Givens is a name to watch out for…" William Gregory, Great Lakes Den(.com), September, 2002 "The vocal find for me and for most of the audience is soprano MELISSA GIVENS. … A clear, expressive voice, bright, strong and yet with tinges of vulnerability, laced with seamless legato and tasteful phrasing." Val Suan, Opera-L, 2001 August ". . . [S]oprano Melissa Givens. . . offered the best example of tailoring sound and technique to a musical style, Her singing was consistently rewarding." Charles Ward, Houston Chronicle, March, 2000 |