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Reviews
Maliella, I Gioielli della Madonna (New York Debut)
“The powerful, earthy Soprano, Julia Kierstine as Maliella (was) impressive.”
New York Times (Anthony Tommasini)
“Julia Kierstine sang in a sumptuous soprano and represented the “free spirit” of a Nedda, the impetuousness of a Tosca and the fickleness of a Manon in this most dramatic of roles.
The music has many passages that soar. One felt the impetuousness of this foolish frustrated young woman caught in a web of her own spinning.
This was a “tour de force” for Ms. Kierstine and truly gave the audience that special something we all long for and all too rarely hear these prosaic days.”
The Italian News (Nino Pantoni)
Manon "Manon
Lescaut"
“Hot Soprano Navigates Nuances of Complex 'Manon'
With Style:
Manon requires a strong lirico
spinto soprano, one who can sing over the orchestra
while carrying a dramatic tone. At the same time...fascinating
the audience with her voice. Kierstine had all these qualities and more.
With nuanced expressiveness, volume control, a shimmering voice and a wonderful
stage presence, she won the audience's approval with no reservation.”
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
“Puccini Given
a Polished Performance:
The role of Manon is a prime example of....a heroine
in her teens with a vocal part that demands a fully mature voice. (Julia Kierstine's) large, clear, flexible soprano created a dynamite Manon. Her head voice
was sweet and warm, anchored in a powerful chest voice. Hers was by far the
largest and finest voice on stage.”
Honolulu Advertiser
Leonore: “Fidelio”
“…..(as)
the brave and loyal Leonore, Julia Kierstine, who
wowed CSO audiences previously as Mimi and Violetta,
showed tremendous musical and dramatic range……the couple’s incomparable duet of
rapturous joy (was) the dramatic climax of the opera.”
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Amelia: “Un Ballo in Maschera”
“Soprano Julia Kierstine was a splendid Amelia. She
would reach for climactic notes fearlessly, rendering them truly and without
shrillness – then drop to a sweet, beautifully controlled mezza
voce. The long Act II duet proved the afternoon’s musical highlight.”
San Francisco Chronicle, (Joshua Kosman)
Leonora: “IL
Trovatore”
“The real treat of the evening was Julia Kierstine…..To
the famed Adagio, “D’Amor Sull’ali
Rosee” she lent a sumptuous array of coloratura
ornaments, including several splendid pianissimi and
a spinning, pulsing trill that absolutely mesmerizes the listener. She is a
treasure.”
Palo Alto Weekly (Palo Alto, California)
“(As Leonora), Kierstine’s soprano is
a resplendent instrument, progressing from the Puccinian
to the somewhat heavier Verdian, yet still able to
carry off the iridescent coloratura passages. Her Leonora enkindled the whole
cast in scene after scene, bringing home the tragedy of these figures cursed by
fate.”
San Jose Mercury News
Violetta: “La
Traviata”
“Soprano Julia Kierstine looks the part, (her) acting
is completely convincing, and she sings the score as though responding
simultaneously to emotions…….(her singing) the pure liquid silver that makes
‘La Traviata’ one of the world’s most popular
operas.”
The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon)
Floria
Tosca: Tosca”
“Friday’s opening night cast was a cornucopia of
operatic talent. Julia Kierstine’s Tosca, a
celebrated singer in the Rome of 1800, is not only a powerful soprano whose
beauty, power and intonation in her upper register is a wonderment, but (she
is) also a skilled actress.”
San Mateo Times (San Mateo, California)
“On opening night, it was clear there was (another) good reason
for another staging of this opera: Julia Kierstine’s
sizzling Tosca…….Kierstine had a clearly defined, highly individual
interpretation of the title role. Kierstine also clearly understands the verismo vocal tradition and has the technique to carry it
off with aplomb. The famous Act II aria, ‘Vissi d’Arte’ was much more than just a vocal set piece for
Kierstine. For her, it was a very personal prayer, full of tenderness, passion
and even defiance.”
Palo Alto Weekly (Palo Alto, California)
Guest Artist / Soloist: “A Tribute to Verdi”, South Bend
Symphony
“If Verdi was the inspiration for this concert,
soprano Julia Kierstine was its star…….bringing three very distinct heroines to
life in a series of performances as engaging and spontaneous as the were technically sound. Her acting was sonatural and persuasive that her duets with (the other
soloists) seemed even out of context. Lacking costumes and scenery, (they were)
more genuine than the love scenes in most fully
mounted opera productions.”
South Bend Tribune
Guest Artist / Soloist: “Canti Lunatici” (Bernard
Rands, Composer)
“Julia Kierstine was magnificent in traversing the
varied demands. Her timbre was silvery, her pitch exact and her control of
techniques, complete.”
Cleveland Plain Dealer (Donald Rosenberg)
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Updated 2011-10-19