“…Lyubov Petrova was a stunning Cleopatra, with a soprano of ravishing, changeable beauty, blazing high notes andmagnetic stage presence. Her “V’adoro pupille” and “Se pietà di me nonsenti” were particularly exquisite…”
OPERA NEWS – Joanne Sydney Lessner
“…Lyubov Petrova, a soprano, a dynamic, alluring Cleopatra… proved superb Handelian, negotiating fast, florid lines and heart-wrenching slow arias with equal flair…”
THE NEW YORK TIMES – Steve Smith
“…First and foremost, the stellar performance of the Glimmerglass summer (and every season has one) surely has to be the “Cleopatra” of Russian Lyubov Petrova who I found quite effortlessly magnificent. “V’adore pupille” and ‘Piangerò’ were just flat out sensational. ‘Sipietà’ got off to a dodgy orchestral start, but our diva pulled it intorhythmic focus quickly enough. Ms. Petrova is possessed of a gleamingand substantial lyric voice, with radiant sotto voce capabilities, and afull arsenal of gleaming coloratura fireworks at her command. Thesoprano already has major Met credits on her resume and small wonder, for she is a major talent. Watch for her at an opera house near you. You will thank me…”
OPERA TODAY – James Sohre
“…She is nothing short of sensational, the Russian soprano Lyubov Petrova. As Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, she sings incredibly, acts equally superbly and makesa stunning presence whether flirting, making love or lamenting atragedy. In her debut with the company, Petrova mesmerizes audiences somuch they are tempted to give her standing ovations in the middle ofthis performance of Handel’s work…”
THE POST STANDARD CNY WEEKEND AND STAR- Joan Vadeboncoeur
“…Lyubov Petrova sang like a goddess as a voluptuous, vivacious Susanna, offering a ‘Deh vieni’ layered with humor, warmth, sensuality and an ineffably beautiful pianissimo high B-flat…”
OPERA NEWS – Joanne Sydney Lessner
“…Lyubov Petrova made an enchanting, Freni-like Susanna, looking and sounding terrific…”
THE BOSTON MUSICAL INTELLIGENCER – David Shengold
“…Thereal star of this production is the Russian Lyubov Petrova, whoselarge, sweet voice carries well throughout the Music Hall, in itself nosmall feat. Petrova sings with a warmth that perfectly suits the role of Susanna, who I always thought should be the very embodiment of the desirableyoung bride, petite and delicate, yet also shrewd and capable ofprotecting herself and her abiding interests in Figaro…”
FORT WORTH RENAISSANCE – Dean Cassella
“…Russian soprano Lyubov Petrova puts her distinctive – and memorable – stamp onthe celebrated aria. Petrova, a commanding actress and a singer withseemingly inexhaustible power and blazing technique, impresses throughout the production, but the mad scene – as it should – climaxes her performance. Alternately hushed and explosive, sheevocatively conveys Lucia hallucinations and fast-shifting moods, without falling into the easytrap of overacting. It is a suitably scary yet poignant portrayal. Atthe same time, Petrova handles the aria’s intricate ornamentation, leapsin register and other notable vocal challenges with flawless accuracyand seeming ease…”
DENVER POST – Kyle MacMillan
“…Lyubov Petrova made Lucia a multilayered figure, though intense and febrile from thestart. Petrova does nothing false onstage (no lunatic shrieks for thisLucia) and combines welcome, shining tone with expressive phrasing andgood musical instincts. Floated high lines were ravishing…”
OPERA NEWS – David Shengold
“Lyubov Petrova captured the naïveté and purity of Gilda with eloquent, refined singing… marvelously spun on threads of silkentone, and the soprano was equally compelling when the temperature rosein the subsequent acts…”
OPERA NEWS – Tim Smith
“…Soprano Lyubov Petrova’s light, delicate coloratura voice was a perfect choice for the role of the teenage Gilda, Rigoletto’s charming daughter whose naivete and selflessness prove tobe her undoing. Her marvelously nuanced first act aria, “Caro nome”, wasgirlishly effective, and her ensemble work with Mr. Alvarez wassuperb…”
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
“…in part because the Gilda of Russian soprano Lyubov Petrova was so ravishing, in every way, thatshe bore nearly as much of the dramatic weight as did the title role… Petrova’s instrument was all satin warmth. She had the agility and rangefor the showy ‘Caro nome’, but she was even more impressive findingwonderful nuances of phrasing and dynamics in the delicate “Tutte lefeste al tempio”. She riveted the attention not with raw power, but withfinesse, astonishing accuracy and a pianissimo to die for…”
INCIDENT LIGHT – Mike Greenberg
“…Lyubov Petrova wears the sequestered ingenue’s innocence well, her facesweetly open with trust, her soprano as pure and light as snowfall orthe milk-white shawl she clutches to her heart. Listening to her sing “Caro nome” is like reclining into a bed of silk pillows: elegant, smooth, luxurious…”
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE – Robert Faires
“…Ms. Petrova… was a vocally scintillating and delightful Zerbinetta…”
THE NEW YORK TIMES – Anthony Tommasini
“…Petrova’s Zerbinetta had enough sex-appeal in her little finger to fill the entire Dorothy Cha ndler Pavilion, and she goaded her hilarious quartet of lovelorncomic masks – here costumed as garishly accoutered beachgoers – toheights of farcical invention. But in the middle of her great aria, delivered with impeccable control and accuracy, Petrova unexpectedly turned toward Ariadne’s cave as if pleading for understanding. ThisZerbinetta’s obsession with different men created as much turmoil withinher as the abandonment by Theseus caused Ariadne; she was as vulnerable ‘onstage’ as she had been in the Prologue, so that her kinship with Ariadne was stressed as much as, or even more than was her differencefrom her…”
OPERA NEWS – Simon Williams
“… the beautiful Lyubov Petrova delivered stunning musical cartwheels in both acts. As a less-bawdy-than-usual Zerbinetta, she managed both the fun and the genial philosophizing with operatic zest…”
THE URBAN MAN – Marc Porter Zasada
“…Ms. Petrova everywhere proved worthy of the title role [Lakmé] on Friday, negotiating even the hair-raising acrobatics of the famous Bell Song with free and open tone…”
THE NEW YORK TIMES – James R. Oestreich
“…As Lakmé, she provided the complete package: beauty, bearing, understatedemotion, clear and elegant coloratura that never got in the way of aheartfelt portrayal. Her Lakmé was as innocent as her Despina wascunning, and the look she gave Gérald as he returned to see her diemingled surprise, resignation and bliss…”
OPERA NEWS – Lawrence Toppman
“…No doubt about it, the opening night performance of Lakme was a personal triumph for Russian soprano Lyubov Petrova in the titlerole. Every woodland call from the Brahmin princess gurgled like a purestream. Every pianissimo glistened and floated like pure silk…”
CREATIVE LOAFTING CHARLOTTE – Perry Tannenbaum
“…a sparkling Glyndebourne performance of Prokofiev’s Betrothal in a Monastery, with the ravishing Lyubov Petrova as its star… Vocal honorsamong the cast go to Lyubov Petrova, who has just the right weightsoprano and girlishly sweet timbre for Louisa. She hits every note dead-on, even during those tricky Prokofiev interval jumps during recitatives; her solid rhythmic sense means thatlittle touches such as the “Tak tak tak” and “da da da” triplets in theAct III scene at Mendoza’s house sound as precisely articulated as atongued note by a flutist. Petrova gets to sing one of themost ravishing love duets ever written, “Moya mechta” (My dream) , andit is sung beautifully indeed; the melody’s opening upward octave leapperfectly captures the sky-high romantic expectations of a teenagegirl…”
OPERA NEWS – Jennifer Melick
“…Vocally, the performance of the night came from Lyubov Petrova’s sparkling Adele…”
THE GUARDIAN – Erica Jeal
“…The vocal star is easily the Adele of Lyubov Petrova…”
THE SPECTATOR – Michael Tanner
“…Petrova,who was so impressive last season in her debut as Zerbinetta in “Ariadne auf Naxos”, seized the opportunities in presenting Juliet to reveal other dimensions of her artistic range. The soprano’s agilityserved the sensuality in Gounod’s opera, while her warmth andcoloristic range were enthralling. Juliet was a triumphant role debutfor Petrova...”
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE – Mark Kannya