Leigh Melrose

Leigh Melrose, “the specialist of 20th-century opera” (The Financial Times), has carved out a formidable reputation for performances of new works and dramatic 20th-century repertoire. A wonderfully dynamic artist in both opera and concert, his performances as Wozzeck (Opernhaus Zürich and English National Opera), the title role in Enescu’s Œdipe (Komische Oper Berlin), Alberich in Das Rheingold (Wiener Staatsoper, Ruhrtriennale and English National Opera), Clov in the world premiere of György Kurtág’s Fin de partie (Teatro alla Scala, Opéra de Paris and Dutch National Opera), and Prospero in Thomas Adès’ The Tempest (Teatro alla Scala) have earned widespread critical and public acclaim.

In the 2025/26 season, Melrose began with a double appearance as Clov in Kurtág’s Fin de partie at the Enescu Festival and the Norwegian National Opera before returning to the Grand Théâtre de Genève as Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande. He joined the Berliner Philharmoniker and Kirill Petrenko as Alberich in Das Rheingold at the Salzburg Easter Festival. Melrose also collaborated again with the acclaimed director Calixto Bieito on two projects: Hèctor Parra’s Orgia with Ensemble Intercontemporain and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 14 at Teatro Arriaga. Other engagements included appearances as baritone soloist in Lili Boulanger’s Faust et Hélène, followed by Nekrotzar in Le Grand Macabre at the Helsinki Festival and Musikfest Berlin, and Britten’s War Requiem at Southwark Cathedral with the Outcry Ensemble.

One of the most sought-after interpreters of contemporary music, Leigh Melrose has given many world premieres, including Louis Andriessen’s exhilarating Theatre of the World at Dutch National Opera and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Dai Fujikura’s Solaris, a co-production between Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Opéra de Lille and Opéra de Lausanne; Johannes Kalitzke’s Die Besessenen at Theater an der Wien; Elliott Carter’s On Conversing with Paradise at the Aldeburgh Festival under Oliver Knussen (also nominated for a Gramophone Award for “Best Contemporary Album”); Luca Francesconi’s Quartett at the Royal Ballet & Opera; and Evan in James MacMillan’s The Sacrifice at Welsh National Opera.

Other performances include his debut at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino singing Rihm’s Der Maler träumt; the title role in Birtwistle’s Gawain with the BBC Symphony Orchestra; Matthias Pintscher’s Songs from Solomon’s Garden with the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris, conducted by the composer; Rambo in the Channel 4 television film of John Adams’ The Death of Klinghoffer; Michael Collins in Jonathan Dove’s television opera Man on the Moon for Channel 4; Punch in Birtwistle’s Punch and Judy in Porto; Xenakis’ Ais with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms and Berlin Festival; Peter Maxwell Davies’ The Martyrdom of St Magnus at the composer’s St Magnus Festival in Orkney, Edinburgh and Inverness; Maxwell Davies’ Eight Songs for a Mad King with the Orquesta de Cadaqués in Madrid, with the London Sinfonietta at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with BIT20 in Bergen and with the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra; Michael Finnissy’s Maldon with the London Sinfonietta at the Queen Elizabeth Hall; and the world premiere of Martin Suckling’s Candlebird, also with the London Sinfonietta under Nicholas Collon.