Praised for his “charisma and vocal elegance” by Das Opernmagazin, multi-award-winning New Zealand baritone Julien Van Mellaerts is highly sought after as both a recitalist and on the operatic stage. He won first prize in both the Wigmore Hall International Song Competition and the Kathleen Ferrier Awards, and represented New Zealand at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in 2019. A graduate of the Royal College of Music International Opera School, and recipient of the Tagore Gold Medal, Van Mellaerts has had great success in recent role and house debuts at the Verbier Festival, Salzburg Mozartwoche, Opéra National de Lorraine, Opera Holland Park, and New Zealand Opera. Julien Van Mellaerts was awarded the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation Laureate 2024, recognising his enterprise and success both on and off stage. In December 2025, he was announced as a trustee of the Laidlaw Opera Trust.
Recent operatic roles include, Count Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro with New Zealand Opera, Duke of Nottingham Roberto Devereux with Theater Ulm, Dr Falke Die Fledermaus at Opera Holland Park, Renato Un Ballo in Maschera with Wellington Opera, Figaro Le nozze di Figaro at the Palermo Classica International Festival, Petrucci in Lucrezia Borgia at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, recorded for release on Prima Classic in 2026. His latest CD “Dialogues” with songs by Schubert (Schwanengesang) and Errollyn Wallen is to be released on 3 July 2026 with Delphian Records. Upcoming performances include a return to Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville in Roméo et Juliette, the title role in Thomas’s Hamlet with the Chelsea Opera group, and returns to Palermo Classica International Festival, Opera Holland Park, and several recording projects of song and concert repertoire to be announced soon.
Previous operatic roles include Figaro Le nozze di Figaro and Masetto Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Mozartwoche, Papageno and Masetto at the Verbier Festival, Wozzeck in the New Zealand premiere of Wozzeck, Oreste Iphigénie en Tauride Opéra National de Lorraine, Count Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro Opera Holland Park, Silvio I Pagliacci at the Israeli Opera, Duke of Nottingham Roberto Devereux at the Badisches Staatstheater.