Ariana Chris
mezzo-soprano
PRESS
POLDINE - US PREMIERE MARIE GALANTE, OPERA FRANCAIS DE NEW YORK
“The mezzo-soprano Ariana Chris is affecting as Marie’s devoted friend Poldine, who sings one of the inserted songs, the impassioned “Je ne t’aime pas”.
-Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times
“On saluera la piquante mezzo Ariana Chris qui fait un tabac avec sa superbe exécution de Je ne t’aime pas.”
- David Shengold, Opéra Magazine, France
COMPONIST - POLISH PREMIERE ARIADNE AUF NAXOS, OPERA BALTYCKA
"Ariana Chris, Canadian mezzo-soprano demonstrated a beautiful young-dramatic color, in singing the role of Composer with technique rivaling that of the best design, at the same time full of passion, and giving credibility to an introverted young idealist detached from life."
- Olgierd Pisarenko, Dwutygodnik,
Ruch Muzyczny Poland
"Ariana Chris as Componist enthused the audience with her voice - resonant, with a nice, fine color, her engaging technical ease in particular in the high register - and her poignant acting.
- Catherine Cloud, GAZETA Trojimiasto, Poland
CHERUBINO IN OPERA HAMILTON'S LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
"Ariana Chris’ Cherubino sang the delightful ‘Voi che sapeté’ certainly one of the outstanding works of the genre. The lady aced it and I admit to humming it for the entire ride home."
- Danny Gaison, Ontario Arts Review
"Ariana Chris was a hoot in the pant role of the lovesick Cherubino, particularly in the scene in which she plays a man playing a woman who’s learning to walk in high heels. Her Voi che sapete was admirably sung with a bashful youth’s ardour."
- Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator
LE GALA - OPERA DU QUEBEC
"Ariana Chris was the most impressive in the skill and genius with which she crafted her Rossinian vocalises."
- J.P. Cote-Angers, Le Soleil, Quebec
(click here for full original review in French)
MANTZAROS PHILHARMONIC GALA CORFU ISLAND FORTRESS, GREECE
"For me, the performance that outshone all others was that of Ariana Chris, especially in her two songs from Carmen where a little subtle acting and sexy merriment took everything to a new level. The crowd stopped talking; cell phones went unanswered. All attention was on the gorgeous mezzo."
- James Chatto, Award winning Author and Columnist
LOLA - CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, NEW YORK CITY OPERA
"…young mezzo Ariana Chris, nee Ariadni Christodoulopoulos in Toronto, who as Lola offered the reverse virtures: a lovely voice… a just-as-lovely presence that enthusiastically embraced the expanded histrionic opportunities of Lawless’s juiced-up miese-en-scene.”
- Patrick Dillon, Opera Canada
RECITAL - WEILL RECITAL HALL , CARNEGIE HALL, NEW YORK
"Ms. Chris has impeccable technique, which was clearly in evidence as she effortlessly moved between a variety of styles from rich low Kurt Weill notes to ethereal and shimmering Carmen highs. Her sense of style and artistry is world class.”
- Variety New York City
RECITAL - ALPHABET CITY, TORONTO
”Still in her late 20s, Chris has a beautifully burnished mezzo-soprano voice, a fine way with a musical phrase and a strong stage presence.”
- John Terauds, The Toronto Star
DIDO - DIDO AND AENEAS, ATELIER LYRIQUE, L’OPERA DE MONTREAL
“La Didon bouleversante de la mezzo Ariana Chris, la voix ample, convient idéalement au personnage. Elle incarne merveille les tourments d’une femme délaissée.”
- Jean-Claude Brenac,
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jean-claude.brenac/PURCELL_DIDO.htm
“Mezzo Ariana Chris was an ardent and vocally secure Dido, very touching in the final scene.”
- Arthur Kaptainis, The Montreal Gazette
POPERA WITH OPERA HAMILTON
"Ms. Chris remained on stage for an excerpt from Les Huguenots which afforded her the opportunity to display an ability to have equal projection whether singing to the front row or to the balcony. Her comfort and clarity in the F-5 range brought her close to contralto without any apparent effort."
- Danny Gaisin, Halton Arts Review
MANTZAROS PHILHARMONIC GALA - CORFU ISLAND THEATRE, GREECE
”…the very expressive Ariana Chris as Rosina, and also as Carmen to simply excellent in the challenging aria "Nobles Seigneurs, Salut!" by Meyerbeer.”
- Dimitris Pitsingos, Corfu Today
CARDIFF BBC SINGER OF THE WORLD 2005
Main Prize:
“Ariana gave us four different teenagers and managed to make each one very different from the others. Stéphano was a street-corner troublemaker while Cherubino’s problems were clearly more internal, so to speak. Her Rosina was definitely ready to flee the nest, clearly ready to be the teenager-from-hell if she didn’t get her way… All the arias worked well with her youthful voice. Ariana is the embodiment of Barbara Bonney’s encouragement at recent competitions about sounding young while you are young, not pushing your voice too far too early.”
METROPOLITAN OPERA COMPETITION NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL
“During the New England Regional, Chris appeared on stage in a red gown with her wavy brown hair styled pin straight. She had the glamour of actress Natalie Portman on the red carpet; and her sound had the richness of mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade.”
-Vanessa M. Palo, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
LA CENERENTOLA, ROSSINI - ORFORD ARTS CENTRE
"…there were a few good young voices to be heard under the baton of Orford artistic director Agnes Grossmann. Ariana Chris applied a light but handsome mezzo voice and firm technique to the title role.”
- Arthur Kaptainis, Montreal Gazette
CARMEN - CARMEN, BIZET - ATELIER LYRIQUE, MONTREAL
“Carmen was performed by Ariana Chris who had one of those fabulous young voices I mentioned. Her voice flowed and her words were clear.”
- Alwyn Horscroft, The Port Hope Evening Guide
“As Carmen, Ariana Chris was flirtatious, more seductive than sensual, tough and vibrant voiced, moving with feline grace.”
- Joanna Manning, The Tribune (Welland)
DEBUT RECITAL WITH RADIO-CANADA, TORONTO
“Her dramatic play competed with the magnificence of her voice… she created ripples and tidal waves with her sea of a voice, taking her audience floating with her.”
- T. Theodoridis, Ebdomada Greek Canadian Newspaper
“She has a wonderfully expressive voice at midrange and is able to rise to the high notes effortlessly. She was poised and sang with assurance and confidence without any stagy gimmicks.”
- James Karas, The Greek Press Toronto
BOULOTTE - OFFENBACH’S BARBE BLEUE, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, OPERA
“…Ariana Chris as his steel willed latest wife… has a strong vocal top and a delightful sense of comedy.”
- Jon Kaplan, NOW Magazine Toronto
Song Prize:
“Ariana Chris brought radiant youth to her recital, following her ‘teenagers’ programme at St David’s Hall. This is not a criticism - when you look and sound as young as Ariana, you should hang on to it as long as possible. Too many young singers ‘fatten’ their voices and sound old before their time.”
– Maggi Willis BBC Cardiff Singer of the World
