| Rachel Watkins - Selected Reviews | bio and resume |
The Tampa Tribune, Kurt Loft
Rachel Watkins, a petite woman with a sweet and tender soprano voice, offered a beautifully shaped marriage aria in Act I and continued to impress with her pealing high notes and alluring hues.
Times Performing Arts Critic, St. Petersburg Times, John Fleming
"...Beautiful Sound." Watkins is a tiny figure, and her voice is not large, but she was strikingly strong in Juliet's first-act coloratura aria. She brought a thrilling darkness and emotional texture to her little soliloquy after realizing who Romeo was at the masked ball. If the soprano seemed too careful at times, her technique and preparation were impeccable, with an especially well-focused and elegant lower and middle range. Watkins acted the part superbly, bringing a persuasive sense of conviction to the headstrong heroine.
Hudson Valley News, John Paul Keeler
Rachel Watkins as Violetta understood her role completely. She made a touching figure throughout both with facial expression, singing the words and producing a limpid vocal beauty. ..the voice could not have been more beautiful than it was in this performance. She reminds one of the great Erna Berger and many of the finest Viennese sopranos."
Times Picayune, Theodore P. Mahne
"As Susanna, Rachel Watkins was well matched to Walker's Figaro. Their duets were particularly lovely. The soprano has a powerful, pretty voice and is a fine actress as well. When she rhapsodically sings of the happiness that love can bring, she gets straight to the heart of the entire opera."
Badische Zeitung, Roswitha Frey
"Rachel Watkins als Tochter Clarice gestaltet ihre lyrischen und heiteren Arie und duette auf gefällige Art."
Thurgauer Zeitung
"Kokett, wie es sein soll, gab sich der Sopran Rachel Watkins bei Puccinis Musetta-Arie."
The News-Press, Gale Bennett
"Soprano Rachel Watkins as Cleopatra flew through amazingly complicated fioritura passages with ease. Her voice is glorious and her coquettish flirting with Caesar was some of the best acting."
Yale News, Evan Johnson
"Soprano Rachel Watkins had a wonderful stage presence as Norina, singing clearly and beautifully even when in a reclining position."
Sanibel-Captiva Islander, Harold Lieberman
"Watkins, in her exquisite and richly over-toned soprano voice, communicates these feelings with convincing poise."
The News-Press, Gale Bennett
"...She was at all times very musical, she is also a fantastic actress. If Hollywood ever discovers her it will be opera's loss." |