RachelWillis-Sørensen
News
- 30 April 2024
Royal Opera 2024/25 season to feature 22 Askonas Holt artists
Read full article - 18 March 2024
Bayerische Staatsoper 2024/25 season to feature 23 Askonas Holt artists
Read full article - 24 February 2024
18 Askonas Holt artists to appear at The Metropolitan Opera in 2024/25
Read full article - 20 February 2024
Askonas Holt welcomes soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen
Read full article
Press
Strauss Ariande auf Naxos
Bayerische Staatsoper at Hong Kong Arts FestivalFeb 2024“American soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen was a wonderful Ariadne — one would never have guessed that this opening night performance was her role debut. Her mezza voce in “Ein schönes war” was gorgeous, as was her resplendent top in “Es gibt ein Reich.” I would not be at all surprised if Ariadne becomes one of her signature roles.”
- Joseph So, Ludwig van Toronto
- 28 February 2024
“The American soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen made her debut in Bayerische Staatsoper’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos in Hong Kong…There was powerful dramatic singing from Rachel Willis-Sorensen as Ariadne.”
- Natasha Rogai, South China Morning Post
- 27 February 2024
Offenbach Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Opéra national de ParisNov 2023 - Dec 2023“splendeur du timbre, ambitus et égalité de registres somptueux” [Translated] "splendid timbre, sumptuous range and equality of registers"
- Pierre Flinois, Opéra Magazine
- 05 January 2024
“...elle reste richement colorée…” [Translated] “...richly colored throughout the range”
- Stéphane Lelièvre, Bachtrack
- 15 December 2023
“Rachel Willis-Sorensen propose une Antonia de caractère, à la mesure de son immense voix aux registres parfaitement joints. Sensible et attentive au sens de la couleur, elle signe une prestation de haut vol, et on souhaite la réentendre vite à l’Opéra de Paris” [Translated] "Rachel Willis-Sorensen offers a characterful Antonia, in keeping with her immense voice with perfectly joined registers. Sensitive and attentive to the sense of color, she gives a high-flying performance, and we hope to hear her again soon at the Paris Opéra".
- Jules Cavalié, Asopera.fr
- 06 December 2023
“L’Antonia de l’Américaine Rachel Willis-Sørensen, qu’on entend pour la première fois à l’Opéra de Paris , est au contraire une voix pulpeuse, aux courbes splendides, au souffle long, aux phrasés soutenus, une véritable héroïne romantique qui confère à son personnage une véritable noblesse tragique.” [Translated] "The Antonia of American Rachel Willis-Sørensen, heard for the first time at the Opéra de Paris, is, on the contrary, a luscious voice, with splendid curves, long breaths and sustained phrasing her character with a true tragic nobility."
- Alain Duault, Opera-online.fr
- 15 December 2023
“As Antonia, Rachel ample soprano lived perfectly on the edge. [...] Her voice allowed to soar into full flight, growing more passionate with each line until she ascended all the way to a thrilling climactic high note that erupted brilliantly into the hall. And then we got the soprano's softest singing of the night as she strode on stage, her final utterances hushed whispers. It was a perfect payoff both musically and dramatically to everything we'd heard and seen throughout the act.”
- David Salazar, Operawire
- 19 December 2023
Verdi Otello
Wiener StaasoperOct 2023Rachel Willis-Sorensen est une Desdemona plus femme de tête qu’épouse résignée. L’aigu est puissant, les piani nombreux et lumineux. “Rachel Willis-Sorensen is a Desdemona more headstrong than a resigned wife. Her middle voice is powerful, her piani numerous and luminous.
- Jean Michel Pennetier, Forum Opera
- 08 November 2023
Desdemona wurde von der Amerikanerin Rachel Willis-Sørensen mit einem schönen und sauber geführten Sopran gesungen. Desdemona was sung by the American Rachel Willis-Sørensen with a beautiful and clean soprano voice.
- Andreas Schmidt, Klassik Begeistert
- 05 November 2023
Rachel Willis-Sørensen, an American soprano very much in demand in Europe as Verdi heroines with her large and clear voice… Her singing became more confident and soulful as the evening progressed, and she delivered Desdemona’s two devastating Willow Song and Ave Maria full of emotional vulnerability mixed with quiet dignity.
- Ako Imamura, Bachtrack
- 26 October 2023
Rachel Willis-Sorensen verleiht der Desdemona mit durchsetzungsstarkem Sopran die Kontur einer selbstbestimmten Tragödin. Rachel Willis-Sorensen lends Desdemona the contours of a self-determined tragedienne with her assertive soprano voice.
- Christoph Irrgeher, Der Standard
- 26 October 2023
Rachel Willis-Sørensen zeigt eine zunächst resolute Desdemona. Ihr warmer Sopran betört in lyrischen Passagen und leuchtet in allen Lagen. Rachel Willis-Sørensen presents an initially resolute Desdemona. Her warm soprano beguiles in lyrical passages and shines in all registers.
- Susanne Zobl, Kurier
- 26 October 2023
Mahler Symphony No.8
München NationaltheaterOct 2023Rachel Willis ‐Sørensen a de superbes aigus… Rachel Willis-Sørensen has superb high notes…
- Antoine Lévy-Leboyer, Concerto Net
- 10 October 2023
Verdi Don Carlos
Grand Theatre, GenevaSep 2023Elisabetta di Valois è Rachel Willis Sørensen. La sua voce, dolce e delicata e capace di ottimi pianissimi, la fa apparire come vittima della vicenda politica e umana. Elisabeth of Valois is Rachel Willis Sørensen. Her voice, sweet and delicate and capable of excellent pianissimi, makes her appear as a victim of the political and human affair.
- Federico Capoani, Connessi all'opera
- 27 September 2023
Herrlich und glanzvoll war auch „Toi qui sus le néant” von Rachel Willis Sörensen als Elisabeth, mit grossartiger Kontrolle und majestätischer Phrasierung. Sie besitzt einen runden und schönen Sopran, der höhensicher ist und in der Lage die ergreifenden Legati mit schwebender Leichtigkeit zu singen. Eine wunderbare Stimme! Gorgeous and glorious was also “Toi qui sus le néant” by Rachel Willis Sörensen as Elisabeth, with great control and majestic phrasing. She has a round and beautiful soprano, confident in the high register and able to sing the poignant legati with floating ease. A wonderful voice!
- Marcel Emil Burkhardt, Der Opernfreund
- 29 September 2023
Strauss Der Rosenkavalier
Glyndebourne Opera FestivalMay 2018Taking the limelight here in her Glyndebourne debut, she was sensational. What stood out was her pin-sharp diction allied to great dynamic control: the ability to stress the important phrases and rise cleanly above the orchestra, or to project a perfectly held pianissimo, always making the words count. She followed Strauss’ lilt beautifully, and made us believe in the mood shifts between light-hearted, wistful or authoritative. She also had bags of stage presence, even in the most ridiculously over-the-top costumes, helped by being very tall. I’ll be lucky to see a better Marschallin.
- David Karlin, BachTrack
- 21 June 2018