Melody Moore - An American Song Album review | Erica Jeal's classical album of the week

The Guardian 80

(Pentatone)
This impressive soprano with mezzo colours is in easy dialogue with pianist Bradley Moore here, for songs by US composers including Barber and Heggie

UK audiences have heard too little of the Memphis-born soprano Melody Moore since a couple of appearances at English National Opera a decade or so ago. Her career rocketed in 2012 after she replaced Angela Gheorghiu as Tosca halfway through a performance in San Francisco. Since then, she has sung an eclectic repertoire all over North America, and is now leaning towards more dramatic roles: she sings her first Elektra this autumn. This recording is a calling card for a genuinely exciting and electric voice, solidly gleaming, with the high range of a soprano but fleshed out with dark, mezzo-ish colours and with its voluptuous richness focused into singing of striking directness and clarity.