Star mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato sang the role of Mary, Queen of Scots, “with plush richness and aching beauty… DiDonato's performance will be pointed to as a model of singing in which all components of the art form — technique, sound, color, nuance, diction — come together in service to expression and eloquence” (New York Times).
"In a notable Met debut, Elza van den Heever… is a vocally burnished and emotionally tempestuous Elizabeth." Matthew Polenzani brought "melting sound and appealing vulnerability" to the role of Leicester, "singing with verve, crispness and poignancy" (New York Times).
"Bel canto is truly back at the Met. The production was as right as can be," said WQXR of David McVicar's "visually striking and imaginative" (New York Times) production when it premiered on New Year's Eve.
Maurizio Benini drew a “supple and glowing performance from the orchestra and the chorus” (New York Times).
"A luminous performance" (Associated Press).
"A royal treat… visually striking" (Wall Street Journal).
"It was hard to imagine a better New Year's Eve gift to opera lovers than this musically splendid and intensely dramatic performance" (New York Times).
Read the full review
The New York Times
Associated Press
Wall Street Journal
WQXR.org
"In a notable Met debut, Elza van den Heever… is a vocally burnished and emotionally tempestuous Elizabeth." Matthew Polenzani brought "melting sound and appealing vulnerability" to the role of Leicester, "singing with verve, crispness and poignancy" (New York Times).
"Bel canto is truly back at the Met. The production was as right as can be," said WQXR of David McVicar's "visually striking and imaginative" (New York Times) production when it premiered on New Year's Eve.
Maurizio Benini drew a “supple and glowing performance from the orchestra and the chorus” (New York Times).
"A luminous performance" (Associated Press).
"A royal treat… visually striking" (Wall Street Journal).
"It was hard to imagine a better New Year's Eve gift to opera lovers than this musically splendid and intensely dramatic performance" (New York Times).
Read the full review
The New York Times
Associated Press
Wall Street Journal
WQXR.org