Melliangee Pérez
Melliangee Pérez-Maldonado[1] (born ca. 21 June 1976) is a Puerto Rican lyric soprano singer of classical music and opera as well as other music genres.[2]
Melliangee Pérez | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Melliangee Pérez-Maldonado |
| Born | 21 June 1976 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Origin | Puerto Rican |
| Genres | Opera, zarzuela, operetta, musical theater, art song, popular music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, musician |
| Instruments | Voice |
Early years
Pérez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She graduated from Dr. Pila High School in Ponce in 1994.[3] She studied at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico as well as studying voice under Zoraida Lopez and Justino Díaz.[4]
Career
Pérez has represented Puerto Rico at various festivals in Europe. She has performed with all the opera companies in the Island as well as performing in Europe, the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. In August 2010, she was soprano soloist at the performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and made her debut at the Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito under the musical direction José Antonio Molina.[5]
Repertoire
Pérez's opera roles include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Mimi (La bohème), Contessa Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Micaela (Carmen), Elvira (Macías), Lauretta and Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Suzel (L'amico Fritz), Princess Patricia (El espejo de la reina), Isabelle / Madeline (The Face on the Barroom Floor), Little Red Riding Hood (La caperucita roja), Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice), among others. In the zarzuela genre, her roles include Cecilia Valdés (Cecilia Valdés), Santa (Alma Llanera), Constance (El huésped del sevillano), and Aurora (Las leandras). She has also participated in several zarzuela anthologies: Entre claveles y faroles, Antología de Zarzuela en el Chotis, Viva Madrid and Zarzuelada. She made her debut as a soloist with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico in a concert entitled Music of Broadway, conducted by Roselin Pabón, who is also the general manager of the Arturo Somohano Philharmonic Orchestra of Puerto Rico.[6]
Humanitarian works and initiatives
In 2009 Pérez collaborated with Cuarzo Blanco and others in a special project named "Leamos todos juntos" (Let's Read All Together), to encourage children to read in Puerto Rico as part of UNESCO's World Book Day.[7][8]
Awards
- 1994
Resolution in the Puerto Rico Senate (1994) highlighting her accomplishments and talent in opera.
- 1999
- Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (District of Puerto Rico)[9]
- 2003
- Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (District of Puerto Rico)[9]
- Resolution in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives (2003) highlighting her accomplishments and talent in opera.
- 2004
- Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (District of Puerto Rico)[9]
- 2005
- 2008
- Semi-finalist at the International Francisco Viñas Competition in Barcelona[9]
- Soprano of the Year award by UNESCO[10]
- 2009
- "Honorary Member" of the Banda Municipal de Ponce Juan Morel Campos with which she has recorded a DVD celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding.[11]
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- History of women in Puerto Rico
- List of People from Ponce, Puerto Rico
References
- Laura Rey: Soprano From Puerto Rico Wins Met's Gulf Coast Regional Finals; National Semifinals Next For 22-Year-Old. Keith Marshall. PuertoRico-Herald. 17 February 2003. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- Voces Líricas del Mundo, Melliangee Pérez.. October 2007
- Melliangee Pérez-Maldonado | Dr. Pila High School . Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- Melliangee Perez: Soprano. Melliangee Perez, Biografia Actualizada. Néstor Murray Irizarry. Casa Paoli. 12 March 2014.
- Carmen Heredia de Guerrero, Periódico Hoy (Dominican Republic), "Una isla, dos naciones" emotivo concierto de la Orquesta Sinfónica Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 20 August 2010 (in Spanish)
- Puerto Rico Daily Sun, "Broadway comes to San Juan tonight", 26 May 2010
- Adriana Pantojas, Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, "Leamos todos juntos" en reflexión 4 April 2009 (in Spanish)
- ‘Leamos todos juntos’ en reflexión. Adriana Pantoja. Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular. San Juan, Puerto Rico. May 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- Melliangee Pérez y Fabián Robles rumbo a España. El Nuevo Dia. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- Teatro Lirico de Europa. Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- Banda Municipal de Ponce: 125 años de Tradicion y Cultura. Published by Amigos de la Banda, Patrimonio Cultural Ponceño, Inc. 2008. Printed/Pressed by Compañia de Turismo and Porta Caribe. ISBN/UPC: 8-84501-04934-4.