Die Zauberflöte, The Metropolitan Opera

Nov. 22, 2007

„… Pamina had everything: elegance, innocence and a finely nuanced sound that lighted up the stage. Her „Ach ich fühl’s“ was a picture of intensity, one of the few persuasively emotional performances of the evening. (Ms. Damrau, who also has the Queen of the Night in her repertory, switches to that role on Nov. 20.)“

The New York Times, 31 Oct 2007

„…the german soprano Diana Damrau stopped the show twice on Tuesday night in the Metropolitan Opera’s production by Julie Taymor (…) In Act I recitative and aria the Queen of the Night persuades earnest Prince Tamino to rescue Pamina. Her daughter, who is being held by the powerful Sarastro, Priest of the Sun. Ms. damrau had everything, including a penetrating sound – bright but never hardedged – an ample coloratura technique to execute the virtuosic passagework. the way she handled the dramatic recitative before the aria was especially impressive; every phrase was delivered with a rich bloom that nearly masked the wily Queen’s manipulations. In Act II, infuriated that Tamino and Pamina are won over by Sarastro to, you could say, the light side, the Queen appears before her daughter to sing „Der Hölle Rache“, the ultimate avenging mother’s aria. With the consent of Ms. Taymor, Ms. Damrau, a complete artist, restored to this scene the calculating spoken dialogue that had been cut. Having established the dramatic context, she proceeded to nail the treacherous aria. When a soprano can toss off the aria’s fearsome passagework, capped by frequent leaps to high F, with the the kind of command Ms. damrau displayed, it makes the queen seem chilly demonic. How else to explain such ability? Ms. Damrau has said, she will retire the role, which makes these appearances even more noteworthy.“

The New York Times, 22 Nov 2007

„On the subject of adorable: That aforementioned superb soprano was Diana Damrau, portraying Pamina. Usually, she’s the Queen of the Night in this opera it has been a calling card. And she will sing the Queen later in this Met run. Then, she will retire the role, leaving it to other coloraturas. As Pamina, she was at her tip-top best, filling the stage with authority and musicality (both of which qualities were often sorely needed). She was poised, mature, and compelling. She has the gift of singing meltingly but substantially with body. Her „Ach, ich fhl’s“ had poignant purity. Ms. Damrau put on a clinic of phrasing in this aria. And, of course, she can spring power on you musically justified power whenever she wants. She was a valuable Queen of the Night and will be, for a couple of additional performances but you will find her an equally valuable Pamina.“

The New York Sun, 31 Oct 2007