Opening Reflections on an Uncommon Release
Arriving on February 21st, MELZITA presents itself as a rare kind of album, one that feels rooted in contemplation rather than trend. It brings together medieval sacred music and contemporary sound practices in a way that feels intentional, calm, and deeply personal. At its heart, the project honors the legacy of Hildegard von Bingen while allowing modern voices to gently step inside her world.
A Meeting of Long Friendship and Shared Curiosity
MELZITA is shaped by the lifelong friendship between mezzo-soprano Rocky Duval and Grammy-nominated producer Andrea Roberts. Having known each other since childhood, the two artists finally found a moment where their shared interests aligned into a single creative vision. That vision was simple yet ambitious: to create a work that could move fluidly between the 12th century and the present day without losing emotional clarity.
The album consists of seven tracks. Three are original compositions by Hildegard von Bingen, while four are newly composed by Duval using Hildegard’s secret language, Lingua Ignota. This structure allows the album to feel balanced and purposeful, with historical material and new creation existing side by side. Some pieces rely solely on voice or violin, forming sustained sonic landscapes that echo medieval chant traditions. Others bring in modern production textures, subtle keyboards, and layered sound design.
Andrea Roberts serves multiple roles across the project as arranger, producer, engineer, and keyboardist. Violinist Lily Lyons adds expressive depth, while mastering by Jett Galindo gives the album a refined final shape. Each contributor leaves space for the music to breathe, allowing silence and resonance to matter just as much as melody.
Breathing Life into a Forgotten Language
One of the most compelling aspects of MELZITA is its thoughtful engagement with Lingua Ignota. While the language has been examined extensively by historians and linguists, it has rarely been treated as a living artistic tool. Rocky Duval approached it with a different mindset.
Using a vocabulary of nearly 1,100 words created by Hildegard, Duval formed four original poems. These texts explore spiritual imagery and natural symbolism through titles such as Aieganz (Angels), O Liuionz (O Savior), Ziuienz (Crickets, Saints of the Fields), and Ispariz (Spirit). Each poem then became the foundation for a musical composition shaped by both medieval influence and modern sensibility.
One track closely reflects Hildegard’s compositional approach, offering a respectful stylistic echo. The remaining pieces move toward contemporary choral and folk-inspired forms, allowing the language to feel expressive and immediate. Through this process, Lingua Ignota becomes audible again in a way that feels intentional rather than academic.
The album’s title, MELZITA, translates to “honey” in Lingua Ignota. It references Hildegard’s work as a healer and naturalist while also serving as a creative reminder. Softness, care, and attentiveness guided every artistic choice throughout the project.
The Artistic Path of Rocky Duval
Rocky Duval brings a wide and varied background to MELZITA. Based in New York, she has been performing professionally since childhood, appearing in opera, stage productions, concerts, television, and public speaking platforms. Her vocal focus centers on baroque and contemporary classical repertoire, with performances alongside organizations such as The Metropolitan Opera Guild, The Glimmerglass Festival, Festival Bach Montreal, and The Seattle Symphony.
Her debut album Treacherous Fate received strong critical praise, and she earned first prize at Japan’s Ise-Shima singing competition in 2022. Beyond recording, Duval has explored Hildegard’s legacy through theatrical work. Her original play Hildegard, Reborn premiered at Lincoln Center in 2024 to a sold-out audience, supported by the New York Public Library. For the production, Duval arranged Hildegard’s music and composed new works inspired by medieval texts.
Her performance history spans international venues, including The Apollo Theatre, The High Line, Monestir Pedralbes in Barcelona, and stages across Germany and Spain. Her voice has also appeared in commercial media, podcasts, and opera films. Alongside performance, Duval works as a public speaking coach and educator, teaching at institutions such as Cooper Union, Johns Hopkins University, and Juilliard. She continues her academic studies in medieval music through the University of Lleida in Spain.
Why This Album Resonates
MELZITA succeeds because it avoids spectacle and focuses on intention. It treats historical material with care while allowing present-day artistry to remain visible and honest. The album feels less like a reinterpretation and more like a conversation across time.
As its release date approaches, MELZITA offers listeners an experience that rewards patience and attention. It stands as a quiet reminder that ancient voices can still feel close when approached with respect, curiosity, and warmth.
We had the privilege of interviewing the Music Artist. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Thank you so much for joining us today! Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
My name is Rocky Duval, and I am a professional singer working in New York City. I sing as a soloist specializing in music written before 1800, especially baroque and medieval music.
Please tell us about your story/journey.
Over the past 3 years, I have become a specialist in the music and works of St. Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th century nun and polymath who experienced ecstatic visions, wrote hundreds of songs, and even invented her own language! I wrote a play about her that premiered at Lincoln Center in NYC with sponsorship from the New York Public Library – Library for the Performing Arts. Since then, I have performed 4 other shows about Hildegard, and this album is my way of putting myself into her work in a clearer way.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
The success of this album is in huge part owed to my producer and engineer, Andrea Roberts. Andrea and I have been friends since we were 14, and she has worked on some major albums in LA (Like Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter!), and I asked if she wanted to make something really different from that! We recorded in LA in September 2024 and are so excited to finally be releasing this piece of work. We also have an entirely female team on this album, from artists to the mastering engineer, and even the cover art was a gorgeous creation by Em Frank, a NYC based visual artist. We didn’t worry about this piece taking too long – we took our time and just deeply enjoyed the process.
Any message for our readers
MELZITA means “honey” in Hildegard’s secret language – an homage to the sweetness of making art with good people for good people!
Thank you so much, Rocky, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!
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