A moment of Melina
Heralded by Opera News for their “lush” voice, Melina Jaharis is a Greek-American with a “rich, dark, resonant” mezzo soprano.
This season includes four exciting new productions, one as the world premiere of Beyond the Horizon, as well as another world premiere in June, both with Teatro Grattacielo. Additionally, Melina will be joining Heartbeat Opera later this season. They will also be performing the role of Marcellina in July, adding to their whopping 43 roles that they’ve performed and covered.
2023-2024 brought covering Santuzza and performing Lola with Regina Opera, and covering Mamma Lucia with MidAtlantic Opera Productions as well, covering La Gran Vestale with Teatro Grattacielo. Melina joined Bronx Opera as La Ciesca, Marianna (Il signor Bruschino) and Fairy Queen (Iolanthe). They performed both Fricka and Erda in Das Rheingold.
Highlights of their 2022-2023 included covering La madre in Madama Butterfly with Sarasota Opera. That summer they covered Amneris, Ortrud and Mrs. Soames with Utah Festival Opera. They also sang the title role of Carmen with MIOpera.
In 2018, Melina sang with Wolf Trap Opera, performing the Contessa di Ceprano and covering Maddalena. Equally comfortable speaking German and English, they studied in Vienna, Austria at the Konservatorium Prayner in the year before their graduate studies. Melina is a Greek citizen.
Opera News
"Melina Jaharis unveiled a lush mezzo as Isabella.”
Giulietta e Romeo (Zandonai) - Teatro Grattacielo, 2022
Chicago Tribune
“Melina Jaharis brought a rich contralto to Ma Moss, Laurie's widowed mother, who lives an unrealized life through her daughters.”
The Tender Land - Northwestern University, 2017
Chatham Life and Style
“Jaharis’ resonant, dark [mezzo] soprano allowed for a lot of flexibility within this role, which is ideal for the immense range this role has with contralto-like writing in some places and soprano-like writing in others. They navigated each of these with confidence and careful dexterity for a performance that captured so much of the essence of Hannah After’s spirit.”
As One - Carolina Performing Arts, 2020
Opera Wire
“As the mother Kate Mayo, Melina Jaharis had a clear sound and solid diction”
Beyond the Horizon (Flagello) Teatro Grattacielo, 2024
