REVIEWS
Šárka, Šárka
New York, NY - 2009
“In difficult, high B-flat-laden music, Kristin Sampson (Šárka) wielded an impressive, darkly gleaming spinto and acted with resolution and power.”
—David Shengold, Opera (UK)
New York, NY - 2009
"...production was strongly cast, with Kristin Sampson's powerful, dark soprano sounding every bit the patriotic warrior, yet softening remarkably when Šárka inadvertently falls in love with her enemy."
—Judith Malafronte, Opera News
New York, NY - 2009
"Kristin Sampson — in a red dress and heeled boots — was a fiery Sarka. Her bright soprano, almost shrill as she urged her punkishly dressed Amazonian colleagues to battle, softened as she fell in love with Ctirad..."
—Vivien Schweitzer, New York Times
New York, NY - 2009
"Kristin Sampson sang and acted the role powerfully...All four solo singers were extraordinary ... There is a visceral pleasure in hearing so many healthy sets of young lungs tearing into this music, and they sing, they do not bellow..."
—John Yohalem, Opera Today
New York, NY - 2009
"In the title role, soprano Kristin Sampson offered a rounded, impassioned performance, especially in her Act II seduction of Ctirad."
—Heidi Waleson, The Wall Street Journal
New York, NY - 2009
"The quality and robustness of the singing was impressive. Kristin Sampson, as Sárka, has a lovely voice. She sang with primal force and excellent control..."
—Arlene Judith Klotzko, ConcertoNet.com
Adriana, Adriana Lecouvreur
Szeged National Theatre - 2008-2009
"Kristin Sampson, who sang Adriana is simply a star. She is perfect in voice, in appearance, in characterization and in presence. And most importantly she will remain so for a very long time, since after hours of singing she was able to sing heartbreakingly beautiful pianissimos."
—Dauner Nagy, Cafe Momus(HU)
Szeged National Theatre - 2008-2009
“In the title-role, Kristin Sampson, the winner of a number of competitions, steps forth from among a row of actors preparing their make-up. Her faultless technique, sensitivity, and magnificent singing enthralled the public. The prima donna role is a fruitful role for one who possesses such an exceptional voice—particularly evident in the lyrical arias. Her duet with the amorous Count fascinated the public with the emotional acting and vocal perfection.”
—Metz Katalin, Culture.HU
Szeged National Theatre - 2008-2009
“Kristin Sampson’s voice is beautiful, powerful, and smooth. Moreover, the artist possesses the prima donna-consciousness necessary for the role of Adriana. All in all, Ms. Sampson is a real talent.”
—László Ferenc, REVIZOR
Szeged National Theatre - 2008-2009
“In Act IV, the two sides unite . . . This is the point where Kristin Sampson is the greatest. She overcomes the vocal demands with incredible professionalism; her voice is young, fresh, and full of delicate shades. She deserved the immense success she had.”
—Ádám Tünde, Opera-vilag
Szeged National Theatre - 2008-2009
“Kristin Sampson, in the role of Adriana, sings clearly. She is an immense talent . . . her acting is light and spontaneous . . . she is very fresh.”
—Izsó Tímea, Kultissimo-Kalandozas
Juliette, Roméo et Juliette
Hyannis, MA - 2007
“Soprano Kristin Sampson’s Juliette was a
real treat: strong in vocal delivery with good range and an open, rounded sound at the high end that had a pleasant warm edge to it. Ms. Sampson, from start to finish, delivered a superb performance, demonstrating, besides considerable vocal talent, a solid, even sensuous, stage presence. Brava!”
—Paul Joseph Walkowski, Opera Online.US
Hyannis, MA - 2007
“Vibrant-voiced and spirited in her delivery, Sampson especially excelled in the dramatic, vocally demanding ‘Potion Aria’ as Juliet struggles to over come her fears…”
—Anna Crebo, Cape Cod Times
New York, NY - 2007
“… Sampson was able brilliantly to find
that mild comic ingratiation in her projected ambivalence over whether to take the death-fabricating potion Friar Laurence (Matthew Lau) provided. Her voice took on a gorgeous, biting resonance. At the end of the opera, amazingly, she and Karn had managed to mesh so perfectly that they made the wildly improbable final love and death duet of “Romeo et Juliette” convincingly poignant. ”
—John Zeugner, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
New York, NY - 2007
“…it was delivered by a promising young
cast led by a bright-toned and eloquent Kristin Sampson as Juliette…”
—Clive Barnes, New York Post
New York, NY - 2007
“Kristin Sampson contributed a strong,
lustily sung Juliette that was at its best in her passionate delivery of the Potion Aria. I also liked the way she seemed almost to berate
Friar Lawrence when enlisting his aid in her hour of need. ”
—George Loomis, New York Sun
Micaëla, Carmen
Middletown, NY - 2007
"Playing Micaela, the other woman in
Don Jose's life, is Kristin Sampson. Her velvet-toned and expressive voice serves well the home-town girl who prevails upon the deserted soldier to hurry to his dying mother.”
—Marcus Kalipolites, Times Herald-Record
Anna Glawari, The Merry Widow
New York, NY - 2006
"There's still plenty of merriment and musical pizazz in that turn of the last century's waltzing operetta The Merry Widow by Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár and librettists Viktor Léon and Leo Stein. That is provided it's blessed with a widow whose charm and voice match her fortune... Kristin Sampson brought a superb soprano and great presence to Anna Glawari..."
—Elyse Sommer, CurtainUp
Violetta Valéry, La Traviata
South Hampton, NY - 2005
"Next step stardom...the voices were those of the most accomplished opera singers..."
—Julia C. Meade, New York Times
South Hampton, NY - 2005
"A couple of weeks ago, at the Vail Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead, a large audience was thrilled to behold another of the great works, this time Verdi's passionate La Traviata. This production, incidentally, was
hailed by the owner of a very well known and respected New York based artists management company as 'The most credible production of this opera that I have ever seen' –high praise indeed! The lead
role of the courtesan, Violetta, was sung and acted beautifully by a newcomer to the company, Kristin Elena Sampson..."
—Roy Bradbrook, Dan's Papers
Narrowsburg, NY - 2005
"At the heart of this tragic story is the would-be heroine, brilliantly performed by Kristin Sampson. With a beautiful vibrant voice and emotion-filled acting, she creates a character who captures a whole range of emotions."
—Marcus Kalipolites, Times Herald-Record
Mimì, La Bohème
South Hampton, NY - 2007
"Kristin Sampson as the ailing Mimi
and John Tsotsoros as her lover Rodolfo had all of the charisma and synergy required for these demanding roles and their performances... made this an evening to remember."
—Roy Bradbrook, Dan's Papers
Cranford, New Jersey - 2006
"As Mimi, Ms. Sampson was in a class by herself. Her voice was rich, full and singing from bottom to top. She had the means to convey whatever mood or motion the libretto demanded. No matter how high or how softly she sang, the sound was supported, the vibrato spinning, the timbre consistent and the phrasing perfectly shaped. Beyond the technique, carry and expressiveness of her voice was an irresistibly gorgeous sound. Last, but not least, she actually coughed like someone who was gravely ill.”
—Brad Tinfow, The Westfield Ledger
Suzanne Michaud,
Thérèse Raquin
New York, NY - 2007
"With her fresh, naturally produced lyric soprano, Kristin Sampson, cast in the small part of Suzanne, made the most positive vocal contribution in the show."
—Oussama Zahr, Opera News
Cleopatra, Julius Caesar
Narrowsburg, NY - 2006
"...productions in the recent past have proved so noteworthy that the site has become a mecca for rising opera singers. And clearly evident in this trend is Kristin Sampson who is starring as Cleopatra in the current production of Handel's "Julius Caesar." In Sunday afternoon's presentation at the Tusten Theatre, this young woman who has earned rave reviews elsewhere exhibited top-drawer quality. She not only sings with purity of tone and intensity enough to fill the auditorium twice over, but also her florid passages soar with grace and her sustained tones turn into dramatic moments."
—Marcus Kalipolites, Times Herald-Record
Anne Egerman,
A Little Night Music
Pittsfield, NJ - 2003
"Marcus Auger as Henrik (Fredrik's son), and Kristin Elena Sampson as Anne (Fredrik's wife) both added strong voices to the production..."
—Bill Rice, Gazette Reporter
Monica, The Medium
Whitman College Guest Artist Recital
Series - 2001
Walla Walla, WA
"Sampson's strong, clear- beautiful voice filled the auditorium as she immersed herself in
the role of Monica..."
—Maggie Ross, The Pioneer
