2019
Washington Concert Opera - Hamlet
Nov, 2019WCO’s superlative casting lights a fire amid the gloom of Thomas’s “Hamlet”
Exemplary in this demanding coloratura role was soprano Lisette Oropesa, whose voice seems to grow richer and more refined with each appearance. She has sung the role on stage before, and the sense of a specialist’s knowledge came through from her love duet in Act I and Act II scene onward. Oropesa’s coloratura exploits, especially in the show-stopping mad scene that encompasses all of Act IV, revealed consummate control and grace. Incendiary high notes floated, chromatic runs slid downward with clarity, and trills glimmered. Particularly convincing were the runs that rocketed upward, ending abruptly as high as the E off the staff, incarnating the character’s mad outbursts.None— Charles T. Downey • Washington Classical ReviewNew Orleans Friends of Music - Recital
Richard Tucker Music Foundation - Gala
Oct, 2019Review: Richard Tucker Gala 2019
This year’s award winner was Lisette Oropesa, who just one day earlier was essaying “Manon” Live in HD at the Metropolitan Opera. Oropesa’s career has been on the rise for quite some time with the soprano conquering Europe in recent years and now doing much the same on this side of the Atlantic. Oropesa opened the night offering an aria from Rossini’s “Tancredi.” The aria “Come dolce all’alma mia” features difficult coloratura runs and a chance to show off a soprano’s virtuosic powers and high notes. It is light and playful but it ultimately doesn’t create the impact that other Rossini arias do, particularly for an opening number of a gala. Oropesa sang the aria with delicacy and a fluid coloratura line that showed her mastery of the vocal style. But it wasn’t really the best display of Oropesa’s powers nor what she could ultimately do with her lyrical voice. She left that for the middle of the program in her “Qui la Voce…Vien diletto” from “I Purtiani.” Here Oropesa started the opening phrase with a piano sound that continuously grew in form and shape with each repetition of “Rendetemi la speme.” The voice grew in size and in expression, showing Elvira’s increasingly agitated state. As the phrase rose to a high note so did Oropesa’s sound, and she eventually descrescendoed to a mere piano that created a haunting effect. In the cabaletta, the soprano sang with precision and exciting tempi. One particularly exciting moment was the phrases “Vien, o caro, all’amore” as she drove the tempo forward during the roulades, creating an unpredictability and excitement that one rarely hears in this aria. During the repetition, Oropesa opted for the “less is more” philosophy with her ornaments. There were sparkling high notes and interpolations that resounded and showed off the soprano’s glittering top register. But ultimately Oropesa was holding off for the final E flat that was effective and resounded throughout the hall. One thing to take note was that Oropesa also chose to sing through the whole Cabaletta instead of doing the traditional cuts in galas; this really allowed the soprano a chance to show different shades of colors. Her final showcase was in the sextet of “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Here the ensemble decided to perform from the beginning of the second act scene allowing the performers to showcase their acting abilities. Oropesa got to bring her chemistry with baritone Artur Rucinski, creating a tense moment as she was forced to sign a marriage contract; they were so immersed in the agitation of the moment that the pen flew out of his hands at one point. They showcased raw emotions in their actions and in the famed sextet, it was all about the passionate music. Rucinski and Oropesa’s powerful voices particularly stood out in the ensemble and her final C sharp was impeccable and a great way to cap off the evening.None— David Salazar • Opera WireMetropolitan Opera - Manon
Sep, 2019 - Oct, 2019Oropesa shines brightly in Met’s lethargic “Manon”
Lisette Oropesa gave a performance as Manon that confirmed she is fully ready for leading roles at the Met. Her voice has grown in size and color since the days when she primarily appeared in soubrette parts: she has developed into a formidable lyric soprano, her voice filling out into a luscious instrument without losing any of its flexibility or tartness. Moreover, Oropesa proved to be the rare soprano who can be entirely convincing in both sides of a complex role. In the first two acts she approached the role with a lovely, bright innocence, charming with a rendition of “Je suis encore tout étourdie” that combined spacious phrasing and breathless excitement, then channeling quiet but intense sadness in “Adieu, notre petite table.”None— Eric C. Simpson • New York Classical ReviewGrandes Vozes - Concert
Oct, 2019Uma grande cantora passou pelo Rio
O melhor da noite ainda estava por vir, e a sequência que encerrou o programa oficial, com a ária Qui la voce e a cabaletta Vien diletto, do segundo ato da ópera I Puritani, de Bellini, recebeu de Oropesa uma interpretação arrebatadora: se a ária foi extremamente musical, a cabaletta foi de arrepiar, com uma demonstração exuberante de agilidade e domínio técnico. Era evidente que estávamos todos diante de uma grande cantora.The best of the evening was yet to come, and the sequence that closed the official program, with the aria *Qui la voce* and the cabaletta *Vien diletto*, from the second act of Bellini's opera *I Puritani*, received from Oropesa a thrilling interpretation: if the aria was extremely musical, the cabaletta was hair-raising, with an exuberant demonstration of agility and technical mastery. It was evident that we were all in the presence of a great singer.— Leonardo Marques • Movimento
Arena di Verona - La traviata
Jul, 2019 - Aug, 2019La Traviata des mythes
Lisette Oropesa était Violetta, un rôle qu’elle chanta il y a quelques années et qu’elle a interprété l’espace d’un soir à Athènes quelques jours avant, histoire de se le remettre en voix. Ce qui étonne toujours chez Oropesa et qui ravit, c’est d’abord son phrasé italien quasi parfait, son sens de la couleur, l’impeccable contrôle de la voix et la tenue du souffle. On lui a reproché quelquefois une sorte de supériorité de la technique sur l’émotion ; on a au contraire ici l’union d’une technique impeccable et le sens donné à chaque mot, le poids de l’expression (quel deuxième acte ! quelle intensité dans amami Alfredo !) et l’intériorité, un mot étrange dans une représentation devant 15000 personnes, où elle est une petite tache blanche sur l’immensité de la scène. Lisette Oropesa, aux origines cubaines, a une évidente familiarité avec un phrasé latin, et une vraie sensibilité, outre une technique de fer acquise dans la formation américaine. C’est d’emblée une Violetta avec laquelle il va falloir compter, car m’est avis qu’elle va les multiplier. Son Addio del passato est exemplaire, et même sa lecture de la lettre, si claire. Et en plus elle a les notes qu’il faut, dans les agilités (ses gioir du premier acte) comme dans les moments plus lyriques du deuxième (dite alla giovine bouleversant et sans doute aussi décuplé par l’émotion distillée par son partenaire Domingo).Lisette Oropesa was Violetta, a role she sang a few years ago and performed again in Athens a few days prior, as a way to get back into vocal shape. What always astonishes and delights about Oropesa is firstly her nearly perfect Italian phrasing, her sense of color, the impeccable control of her voice, and the management of her breath. She has sometimes been criticized for a sort of superiority of technique over emotion; however, here there was a union of impeccable technique and the meaning given to each word, the weight of the expression (what a second act! What intensity in "amami Alfredo"!) and a sense of introspection, an odd word in a performance before 15,000 people, where she is but a small white spot on the vastness of the stage. Lisette Oropesa, of Cuban heritage, has an evident ease with Latin phrasing, and a true sensitivity, in addition to a solid technique acquired through American training. She instantly becomes a Violetta to be reckoned with, as I believe she is going to take on this role more frequently. Her "Addio del passato" is exemplary, and even her reading of the letter, so clear. And she has the necessary notes, in agility (her "gioir" in the first act) as well as in the more lyrical moments of the second ("dite alla giovine" is moving and undoubtedly also intensified by the emotion distilled by her partner Domingo).— Guy Cherqui • WandererGreek National Opera - La Traviata
Jul, 2019The triumph of a "Traviata" of smart choices and great protagonists
Born to the romantic bell-cadet, the 36-year-old lyricist demonstrated her great class: her medium-sized, well-placed, luminous voice - obviously more suited to her more moving last two acts than to her crafty requirements - her huge Roman amphitheater, her aesthetic and the good taste of her song (trillions, ornamentations) constantly reminded the early Verdi's Bell-Candid debts, the stage presence was ethereal, emotional and emotional j with correct passion doses. Athens was lucky enough to enjoy - and rightly so! - a singer who has all the backgrounds (youth, beauty, voice, stage displacement) to shine worldwide in the role of tragic partner!None— Eutychios D. Choriatakis • AthinoramaSavonlinna Opera Festival - I Masnadieri
Jul, 2019Les Brigands de Verdi en haut de l’échelle : La Scala triomphe à Savonlinna
Lisette Oropesa s’attaque au rôle à l’origine conçu pour Jenny Lind (dont le bicentenaire sera sans doute commémoré l’année prochaine en Suède). Ce seul personnage féminin se révèle le plus attentionné de tous. L’Amalia d’Oropesa n’a pas que le cœur sur la main, mais également sa respiration et ses palpitations, qui deviennent pratiquement physiques d’une manière qui évoque le souffle audible d’une Violetta ou d’une Gilda. Oropesa sait profiter au maximum de l’écriture vocale : plus ses coloratures et ses sauts impeccables entre les registres montent vers les niveaux stratosphériques, plus son timbre chaleureux et teinté de mélancolie gagne en beauté et en sûreté. Lorsqu'elle apprend que Carlo est en vie, elle effectue un changement soudain d'intention, touchant à la folie, qui offre un instant irrésistible. Les spectateurs ravis s’unissent pour la récompenser, elle, ses collègues et tout l’orchestre (qui vient sur le plateau), d'une ovation debout.Lisette Oropesa takes on the role originally created for Jenny Lind (whose bicentenary will undoubtedly be commemorated next year in Sweden). This sole female character proves to be the most attentive of all. Oropesa's Amalia not only wears her heart on her sleeve, but also her breath and palpitations, which become almost physical in a way that evokes the audible gasping of a Violetta or a Gilda. Oropesa knows how to make the most out of the vocal writing: the more her coloraturas and flawless jumps between registers ascend to stratospheric levels, the more her warm and melancholic tone gains in beauty and confidence. When she learns that Carlo is alive, she undergoes a sudden shift in intention, akin to madness, that creates an irresistible moment. The delighted audience unite to reward her, her colleagues and the entire orchestra (who come on stage), with a standing ovation.— Andreas Wahlberg • Olyrix
Teatro alla Scala - I Masnadieri
May, 2019 - Jul, 2019I masnadieri at La Scala — channelling the vitality of Verdi’s opera
As so often under Pereira, casting was the strongest element here. Lisette Oropesa made a rapturous house debut, investing Amalia with depth, authenticity and allure, and streaming through this fluttering Jenny Lind role with disarming ease. As a result, this usually drab heroine became the production’s unlikely pillar.None— James Imam • Financial TimesPittsburgh Opera - Don Pasquale
Apr, 2019 - May, 2019Review: Pittsburgh Opera revisits silent Hollywood in waggish season finale production
There are some voices in opera that are so sublimely expressive that they stand out like a Michelangelo fresco in a black and white film. Pittsburgh Opera’s season finale production of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” features such a voice. Soprano Lisette Oropesa, no stranger to the Benedum Center stage, was recently granted the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, granted annually to an American singer on the precipice of a dazzling career. Her performance on Saturday showcased impeccable clarity of tone and articulation coupled with exquisite lyricism. Ms. Oropesa, for her part, was enchanting, moving swiftly from coquettish to incendiary as the plot to humble Pasquale coalesces. With her rising prestige confirmed by the Richard Tucker Award (other winners include Renee Fleming and Joyce DiDonato), Ms. Oropesa’s career is likely poised to blossom in the coming seasons.None— Jeremy Reynolds • Pittsburgh Post GazetteLa Monnaie - Robert le Diable
Mar, 2019 - Apr, 2019Oropesa steelt de show in Robert le Diable
Alles wat deze Cubaans-Amerikaanse sopraan aanraakt, verandert in goud. In Amsterdam hoorde we haar eerder als een fenomenale Nannetta in Falstaff (De Nationale Opera) en Gilda in Rigoletto (De Nationale Opera en de NTR ZaterdagMatinee). Haar krachtige lyrische sopraan klonk als een warm bad. Oropesa’s eerste aria werd onthaald met langdurig applaus. Haar tweede aria, ‘Robert, toi que j’aime’ in de vierde akte, was een showstopper pur sang. Wat een prachtaria, en wat een prachtsopraan. Trillers, coloraturen, legatolijnen, dictie: alles klopt bij Oropesa. Hopelijk houdt ze het hoofd koel en weet ze zich te hoeden voor rollen die ze wijselijk moet afhouden. Dit is een stem die niet vaak voorkomt heden ten dage.Everything this Cuban-American soprano touches turns to gold. In Amsterdam, we've previously heard her as a phenomenal Nannetta in Falstaff (The National Opera) and Gilda in Rigoletto (The National Opera and the NTR Saturday Matinee). Her powerful lyrical soprano sounded like a warm bath. Oropesa's first aria was greeted with prolonged applause. Her second aria, 'Robert, toi que j'aime' in the fourth act, was a showstopper par excellence. What a gorgeous aria, and what a magnificent soprano. Trills, coloraturas, legato lines, diction: everything is perfect with Oropesa. Hopefully, she keeps her cool and knows to avoid roles she should wisely refrain from. This is a voice that is not common nowadays.— Lennaert van Anken • Place de l'OperaGran Theatre del Liceu - Rodelinda
Jan, 2019 - Mar, 2019Una 'Rodelinda' de lujo en el Liceu
Un lujo, tanto como el que ofreció el impresionante y auspicio debut de Lisette Oropesa en el papel titular, quien impuso una voz de gran belleza y esmalte, dominio estilístico y sentido teatral, fascinando con las arias a su cargo y poderosa en el ornamento.A luxury, as much as the one provided by the impressive and promising debut of Lisette Oropesa in the leading role, who displayed a voice of great beauty and polish, stylistic mastery and theatrical sense, captivating with the arias in her charge and powerful in ornamentation.— Pablo Meléndez-Haddad • El PeriódicoLSU - A starry night
Jan, 2019
Maestro Foundation - Recital
Jan, 2019
