Joana Seara

        soprano

Reviews

THE CORONATION OF POPPEA - Monteverdi, English National Opera, London Coliseum, October 2007

"William Berger and Joana Seara made a strong impression in their scene as Valletto and Damigella, and their scene was made even more poignant by being played out next to Seneca's body."

Robert Hugill, Music and Vision

ROMEO AND JULIET - Benda, Bampton Classical Opera, Buxton Festival, Bampton, Westonbirt and St John's Smith Square London, July-September 2007

"... the sensationally good young Portuguese-born soprano Joana Seara..."

" The two or three biggest scenas are for Juliet, all meaty ones. And what heaven they were, in Joana Seara's delicate and tender hands. This gorgeous young soprano has everything one could desire vocally. ... The delicacy of each move of Juliet, each half-line uttered, was touching in the extreme..."

Roderic Dunnett, Music and Vision

"Joana Seara combined radiant looks with dramatic intensity as Juliet..."

Serena Fenwick, Musical Pointers

"... the spotlight is so relentlessly on Juliet and her predicament, and in this role the soprano Joana Seara made a feisty, at times vehement heroine, singing and acting with great conviction."

Keneth Chalmers, Opera Magazine, November 2007

"Joana Seara, was resonantly radiant, as the heroine, a lady, of considerable spirit, and also, a Shakespearean actress of the highest talent."

Violeta, Primi Divi opera blog, 26 September 07

THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY - Lampe, Opera Restor'd / Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin, Neues Palais Sanssouci, Potsdam, Germany, June 2007

"Joana Seara was a delicious Margery, as jealous of the concertmaster's solos as she was of the second donna, Mauxalinda (Tamsin Dalley); their "rival queens" duet was one of the performance's highlights."

Carlos Maria Solare, Opera Magazine, November 07

"Joana Seara’s Margery was just the right mixture of purity and petulance..."

Financial Times, 27 June 07

ORLANDO - Handel, Independent Opera at Sadler's Wells, Lilian Baylis Theatre, London, November 2006

"...Joana Seara’s enchanting Dorinda..."

Hugh Canning, Sunday Times, 19 November 06

"...and in the soubrette role of lovelorn Dorinda we have a charming, bubbly performance from Joana Seara. (Think Mozart’s Despina in Così fan tutte.)"

David Murray, Financial Times, 9 November 06

"Joana Seara, as the shepherdess Dorinda, won all hearts with her wide-eyed, virginal readiness for the joys of love, all the more amusing for being learnt from a book."

Barry Millington, Evening Standard, 10 November 06

"Portuguese soprano Joana Seara, whose acting is as polished as her voice, managed both the sadness of Dorinda's love for Medoro (Quando spieghi i tuoi tormenti) and her later cheerful acceptance that love is transient (Amor è qual vento) which she sang from the orchestra pit, in fine style."

Serena Fenwick, Musical Pointers

RECITAL - Oxford Lieder Festival, Oxford, 24 October 2006

"Tonight it was the passionate, untamed voice of Joana Seara in an unusual programme."

"It was in this group of songs [A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table] that I felt both singer and pianist [Sholto Kynock] excelled themselves."

Jessica Rose, Daily Info Oxford

"She has a brain and uses it musically."

Anne Ozorio, Seen and Heard

FALSTAFF - Verdi, GSMD, March 2006

"Joana Seara . . .  and Luciano Botelho . . .  sang Nannetta's and Fenton's first-act love duet with melting sweetness; both voices displayed a real Italianate quality and Seara's solo floated beautifully over the ensemble in the final scene . . .  Seara's polished performance had great appeal . . . "

Margaret Davies, Opera Magazine, June 2006

VIOLET - Roger Scruton, GSMD, November 2005

“The evening was redeemed (…) by the Portuguese soprano Joana Seara in the title role [Violet], her combination of exotic allure and impeccable English as to the manor born.”

Hilary Finch, The Times, 2 Dec 05

LA FINTA SEMPLICE - Mozart, GSMD, November 2005

“ (…) Joana Seara (as the maid Ninetta) had, for me, the most enchanting and rounded voice of the evening, beautifully controlled and with signs of subtle colouring. She moves deliciously and teasingly as well; she already looks to have what it takes. Indeed, the duo’s witty shenanigans [with Tom Oldham] made them look a reliable bet as a future Figaro and Susanna.”

Roderic Dunnett, Opera Now, March/April 2006

“The danger of this type of character [Ninetta] is that it can so easily steal the show –as here. Seara's comedic timing was spot-on, as was her pitching. Her phrasing was always stylish and, perhaps most importantly, she has great stage presence.”

Colin Clarke, Seen and Heard

COSI FAN TUTTE - Mozart, British Youth Opera, Peacock Theatre London, September 2005

“…delightful Portuguese soprano as a Despina of sensual Latin temperament and smiling impudence who could grace a Glyndebourne Così tomorrow.”

Hugh Canning, Opera Magazine, Nov 2005

“Joana Seara gives us a beautifully-sung Despina, full of charm and vocal variety.”

Warwick Thompson, Metro, 8 Sept 05

MASTERCLASS with Felicity Lott, Finzi Friends, Ludlow, June 2004

“Joana Seara, a young Portuguese soprano gave a spirited performance which showed exceptional musical maturity and grasp of text, challenging even for a native speaker. She was stunning: there was little for Lott to correct but minor pronunciation. Seara is carving a career in opera. She is one of the best new singers I've heard in the last ten years, definitely one to watch out for.”

Anne Ozorio, Music Web