“Una voce poco fa” (Il barbiere di Siviglia) - Rossini

Madeline Slettedahl, piano

“I enjoyed mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce in last season’s The Love for Three Oranges, but nothing could have prepared me for her total mastery of the role of Rosina. Like Figaro, Rosina has an entrance aria so well known that it sometimes is endured rather than admired. Well, wow, did she ever take Una voce poco fa, and set it on its ear! From the first rich, rolling tones of the piece, she made our eyes open wide. By the time she got to the coloratura, roulades, and all, we knew hers was going to be a definitive interpretation of not just the aria, but the role.  Ms. Pierce went from strength to strength, totally inhabiting the part, and ravishing us with stellar vocalizing.  Moreover, she is not only effortlessly funny, she is unfailingly lovely.  There is a big career ahead.”

OPERA TODAY