La Vie Parisienne, L’Opéra Comique de Washington:
“Stealing the show vocally was the frisky mezzo-soprano of Melanie Ashkar, a native of Washington, D.C. Her luscious-voiced Métella lit up the room, and proved especially funny in the Act I ensemble ‘Connais pas,’ where she pretends not to recognize Bobinet and Gardefeu in the train station.”
NAUGHTY MARIETTA, WINTER OPERA ST. LOUIS:
“The role of Adah, a serving wench in love with the villain, is gorgeously sung by Melanie Ashkar. Hers is a sublimely professional performance—a deeply sensitive actress with a voice rich in dramatic subtleties. Her ‘’Neath the Southern Moon’ song is to die for.”
— KDHX
“Mezzo-soprano Melanie Ashkar provided effective dramatic weight as Adah, the woman Grandet has wronged, in the ballad ‘Under the Southern Moon’. Her voice had the rich, sultry quality the role required.”
The Little Prince, Utah Opera:
“Mezzo-soprano Melanie Ashkar was stunning as the Fox.”
“…The Fox, expertly sung and played by Melanie Ashkar.”
— Utah Theatre Bloggers Association
The Magic Flute, Central City Opera:
“The three Ladies/housemaids—Tasha Koontz, Kira Dills-DeSurra and Melanie Ashkar—sang with impeccable vocal balance.”
“The harmonies delivered by the Three Ladies (Tasha Koontz, Kira Dills-DeSurra and Melanie Ashkar), who follow Tamino throughout the opera, are nothing short of divine.”
Suor Angelica, Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance:
“Melanie Ashkar had the proper balance of sternness and compassion as La Maestra delle Novizia. Her flexible warm mezzo soprano was a perfect barometer for her character and assigned duties.”
Los elementos, New York City Opera:
“Melanie Ashkar showed an appropriately earthy quality in the role of La Tierra…in her middle and chest voice she possesses, dark, rich color.”
Eugene Onegin, Utopia Opera:
“The singing was good all around with…Melanie Ashkar using her lustrous mezzo-soprano and spirited dramatic instincts to create a very believable feckless younger sister Olga.”
Alcina, OperaRox Productions:
“Mezzo-soprano Melanie Ashkar commanded her musical material as Bradamante. Ashkar sang with both an even and agile tone, handling the difficult coloratura of her arias with poise and clarity. She maintained a calm and focused presence on stage, grounding her scenes by listening and reacting intently and in the moment.”
“We remember Ms. Ashkar's weighty mezzo from Opera Rox' production of Handel's Alcina when she impressed us in the role of Bradamante. This is an unusual voice that, once heard, is not forgotten.”