Meet Melissa Sondhi – The Rare Indian American Soprano

 By MANISHA KOSHY

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The stage at Opera San José is illuminated this fall not only by the brilliance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute but also by the talent of rising opera star Melissa Sondhi. As the Wadhwani Resident Artist for the season, Sondhi is making waves in the operatic world, especially as Princess Pamina in this fantastical production.

Mozart’s comic and family-friendly opera, a beloved Singspiel that combines speech and song, is being presented with a modern twist, performed in German and supplemented with English and Spanish subtitles. Running from September 14 to 29 at the California Theatre, The Magic Flute offers a delightful blend of comedy, magic, and otherworldly creatures. Sondhi spoke to India-West about her preparations for it and how she has landed where she has.

Early Beginnings

Sondhi’s path to becoming one of the opera world’s most promising emerging sopranos began long before her role in The Magic Flute. Raised in Indiana, she discovered her passion for music while attending Park Tudor School, where a strong arts program provided her with private voice lessons. Jeanne Bowling, her voice teacher, quickly recognized her potential and encouraged her to take on more challenging soprano roles. One of Sondhi’s defining moments came when she performed the aria “Vanilla Ice Cream” from She Loves Me during a recital as a high school sophomore. This performance solidified her desire to pursue opera professionally.

Her dedication to her craft led her to pursue further education at the University of Michigan, followed by a Masters from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Supported by the Wadhwani Foundation, which nurtures South Asian talent, Sondhi is now poised to take on some of the most coveted roles in opera this season, including performing Musetta in La Bohème this season.

Tackling Demands of Pamina

In The Magic Flute, Sondhi faces a unique challenge with the role of Princess Pamina, particularly in her Act 2 aria, “Ach, ich fühl’s.” The aria is deceptively difficult, with minimal orchestral support, leaving the soprano’s voice fully exposed. Sondhi describes this moment as “super exposed,” noting how the emotional intensity of Pamina’s belief that her love is unrequited adds to the technical demands of the performance.

The aria requires a mastery of vocal control, and for Sondhi, the process of perfecting it has been both mentally and technically challenging. But she approaches it with confidence, emphasizing the importance of trusting herself and allowing her voice to soar above the orchestra, carrying the weight of the scene’s emotion.

Inspirations

As Sondhi continues to refine her craft, she draws inspiration from legendary soprano Kathleen Battle. “She has a stunning bell-like quality to her voice, and I’ve been told we share similarities in tone,” Sondhi says. Battle’s technical prowess and musicality have greatly influenced her own interpretation of roles like Pamina. Another inspiration is Nadine Sierra, whose rendition of Pamina has helped Sondhi bring her own distinct voice to the role.

Mastering Languages

Like many opera singers, Sondhi faces the challenge of performing in multiple languages, an integral part of operatic training. She has honed her skills in Italian, German, and French diction, all crucial for performing across a broad repertoire. Although German is her favorite, given its relevance in the opera world, her multilingual training allows her to seamlessly switch between languages, adding depth and authenticity to her performances.

Breaking Barriers

As one of the few Indian American sopranos in a predominantly white opera world, Sondhi has faced her share of obstacles. Often, she found herself as the only person of color in the rehearsal room, feeling the pressure to conform to traditional norms. “I even wore audition outfits that didn’t suit my skin tone, just because that’s what I saw other women wearing,” she recalls.

Despite numerous rejections—Sondhi has faced rejection 90 times before landing roles—her persistence and resilience have paid off. Now, she is using her platform to encourage greater diversity in opera, hoping that her success will inspire more people of color to pursue careers in this art form.

As for the future, Sondhi’s aspirations are as high as her vocal range. She dreams of playing Leïla in The Pearl Fishers, drawn by the South Asian-inspired costumes and ethereal music. She also has her sights set on Violetta in La Traviata, one of the most demanding roles in opera, requiring immense vocal skill and emotional depth.