"Anna Tonna effectively
stole the show as Ernestina, offering a prototype of the
classic quick-witted Rossini heroine with a heart of gold
as well as showing off her warm, secure mezzo-soprano to
maximum advantage. The rest of the cast was variable perhaps,
but everyone onstage, and the audience as well, was clearly
having a grand time."
Peter
G. Davis, New York Magazine, February 2, 2003
"The scenes from Bellini's opera
were ravishingly sung and acted. In their closing duet,
mezzo Anna Tonna and the beautiful soprano, Ana Camelia
Stefanescu, a Modigliani portrait come to life, merged soaring
intensity and caressing 'bel canto' in a perfection that
would proudly grace any of the world's great opera houses."
John Paul Keeter, The Daily
Mail
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Photo: Anka Lupes |
Photo: Steve Brown |
"Among
the singers, the standout was Anna Tonna, performing
a set of zarzuela arias with charm and magnetism of
a born star. Her dark, compact lyric mezzo-soprano flung
out the flamenco like vocal flourishes with an arresting
rhythmic snap, and she had the Spanish-speaking members
of the audience smiling and nodding at her crisp delivery
of the comic lyrics."
James
Jordan, LGNY, "Spanish Music Concert at
La Belle Epoque" |
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"As Rosina, Anna Tonna voiced her recitative with
delightful zest and snag such central arias as
"Una voce poco fa" with bright, brilliant
coloratura...the mezzo-soprano's ringing volume
seemed designed to show off her suitability for
a bigger house."
Bradley
Bambarger, The Star- Ledger
"Anna Tonna as Rosina
was correctly played as a delightful spunky character,
in this case with a voice which was full of vitality
and technique. Her "Una voce poco fa"
(what an aria to have to sing so soon after one's
entrance) was as solid as they come and thus left
the audience relaxed about how the virtuoso role
would be handled for the rest of the evening."
Paul
M. Sommers, Classical New Jersey Society Journal
"Mezzo soprano Anna
Tonna as Rosina displayed brilliant coloratura
in the upper register and a clear, darkly beautiful
lower register in her opening aria "Una voce poco
fa". Her singing only got stronger and more focused
as the evening progressed".
Phil
Marcus, Peoria-Times Observer, "A
Sparkling Barber of Seville from Opera Illinois" |
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"Anna
Tonna brought a penetrating sound to her alert portrayal
of Donna Mercedes, the mayor's wife". Review of
the North American Premiere of Zandonai's La farsa amorosa
in Lincoln Center
- Steve Smith, New York
Times, New York, NY (14 November 2006)
Anna
Tonna was sheer perfection as Donna Mercedes, her gorgeous
mezzo sailed through her pensive introduction to Act
Three with the words "sta notte apparachio il lettucio
nel bosco...she is a joy to watch and hear...with her
stunning voice in full bloom
- Nino Pantano, Italian
Tribune, New York City (7 December 2006) |
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Photo:
Steve Brown |
"Anna
Tonna, with her beautiful, rich lyric mezzo was an alluring
Lola"
Opera-LNew,
Jersey Verismo Opera presents Cavalleria Rusticana |
"Mezzo
Anna Tonna rose to the challenge of her Act II aria with
firmness and force."
Shirley
Fleming, The Record Guide, "American Opera
Musica Theatre presents Paisiello's 'La Molinara' at New
York's Town Hall"
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