“The Maria Callas of American musical theater,” as Opera News has called her, referencing both her crystalline voice and dramatic, expressive intensity, Melissa Errico is a Tony Award-nominated actress, singer and author who contributes regularly to The New York Times. First known for her starring roles on Broadway, including MY FAIR LADY, HIGH SOCIETY, and LES MISERABLES, her recent album, Sondheim Sublime, was called by The Wall Street Journal “The best all-Sondheim album ever recorded.” Errico’s history with Sondheim began when he selected her to star as Dot in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at The Kennedy Center, and she has since co-starred as Clara in PASSION at Classic Stage Company and in the NY City Center Encores! production of the Sondheim/Rodgers musical DO I HEAR A WALTZ? In April 2020, she appeared in the much-talked about Sondheim 90th Birthday Concert with Broadway.com and in May, was featured on the PBS Poetry in America episode about Sondheim which featured Melissa singing “Finishing the Hat.” In addition to Sondheim, nothing in her work has been more constant than her association with composer Michel Legrand. Having starred in his sole Broadway show, AMOUR, she went on to collaborate with him on the iconic album Legrand Affair. After his death in 2019, she was asked to write his eulogy by The New York Times and was then invited to be the sole American performer in the extraordinary two-day memorial to Legrand held in April, 2019 at Paris’ Le Grand Rex Theatre. Warner Music/Ghostlight Records recently reissued her symphonic album, which Legrand arranged & conducted, as Legrand Affair (Deluxe Edition). July 4 weekend she offered a special virtual concert with Seth Rudetsky and has also been keeping busy through these difficult months by offering multiple other live-streams and conversations, teaching master classes for students across the country, and producing a delicious at-home cooking show “The Honest Cook” on Instagram, which she chronicled in an essay for Variety magazine.
Melissa is delighted to teach at HB & hopes to create a kind and exciting atmosphere to practice, learn and take risks.