THE
MAGIC FLUTE
Pacific Opera Victoria
Aline Kutan, as the Queen of the Night, is a volcano, commanding the stage
vocally and dramatically.
The Victoria Times Colonist, Kevin Bazzana, April 18, 2009
THE MAGIC FLUTE
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Soprano Aline Kutan tossed off the Queen of the Night's famous aria with
suitable evil gusto spiked with piercing high notes.
TheStar.com (Toronto Star ), John Teraud, Jan 23, 2009
LE GALA: MÊME PLAISIR RENOUVELÉ
Autre retour et autre confirmation d'un talent exceptionnel: Aline Kutan,
virtuose de la voix et prodige de justesse, qui remplace un air de Puritani
par un autre du même opéra, le « Qui la voce »
où elle dote la cabalette d'ornements nouveaux et très aigus.
LA PRESSE MONTRÉAL Claude Gingras 9/12/2002
OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL'S 7TH BENEFIT GALA
Another sort of soprano, Montreal's Aline Kutan, almost made a bel canto
fan of me with her sweet-toned and superbly athletic rendition of Son
Vergin Vezzosa from Bellini's I Puritani.
THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL Arthur Kaptainis 9/12/2002
DELIBES "LAKMÉ" LAKMÉ
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE
Michigan Opera Theatre's welcome production of Lakmé was announced
as a vehicle for French-repertory specialist Sumi Jo, singing her first-ever
performances of the title role. When she withdrew two weeks before rehearsals
began, opportunity fell squarely onto the shoulders of Aline Kutan, the
Canadian soprano scheduled foe the alternate cast, who gamely undertook
six performances of this technically difficult, stylistically elusive
role over a nine-day stretch. It was a risky but triumphant move. Kutan
had distinguished herself in the second cast of Anoush at MOT last fall,
and it was good to re-encounter her in a role that gave greater leeway
to her very substantial gifts: a lovely, coolly throbbing, silvery timbre;
impressive technical command; a sure sense of style; and a winning, sympathetic
stage presence. Her Bell Song dazzled sufficiently, but never without
a sense of its purpose in the drama, and when, in the last act, she ingested
the fatal datura, her last phrases had the lyrically scented evanescence
of a delicate perfume wafted on the gentlest of breezes.
OPERA CANADA MAGAZINE Patrick Dillon Fall 2002
MOZART "DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE" DIE KÖNIGIN
DER NACHT
L'OPÉRA DE METZ
On distinguera particulièrement l'excellent Reine de la Nuit d'Aline
Kutan, vraie présence vocale et scénique.
OPERA INTERNATIONAL (#270) Thierry Guyenne 07/2002
Translation: One will distinguish the excellent Queen of the Night of
Aline Kutan, a real vocal and scenique presence.
DIKRANIAN "ANOUSH" TITLE ROLE
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE
In the title role, Canadian soprano Aline Kutan spun lovely, limpid lines
of shimmering silver, and looked and acted the perfect Armenian girl next
door, while her account of Anoush's extended mad scene made one forget,
for the moment, Lucia's and Ophelia's.
OPERA CANADA MAGAZINE Patrick Dillon Spring 2002
STRAVINSKY "THE RAKE`S PROGRESS" ANNE
TRULOVE
L'OPERA D'AVIGNON
Enfin Aline Kutan est apparue bouleversante dans l'humilité de
son comportement comme dans la lumineuse sincérité de ses
chants. En assistant son infidèle amant jusque dans les pires heures
de la détresse, elle réussit une composition de Anne qui
constitue l'un des sommets de cette création.
VAUCLUSE MATIN Claude Taelman 24/03/2002
Translation: Finally, Aline Kutan appeared very moving in the humility
of her performance like in the luminous sincerity of her singing. Assisting
her unfaithful lover until the worst hours of distress, she succeeds a
composition of Anne that constitutes one of the pinnacles of this creation.
OFFENBACH "LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN"
- OLYMPIA
L'OPERA DE MASSY (PARIS)
"Aline Kutan était parfaitement en situation en Olympia, vocalisant
avec aisance, sachant orner, sans la défigurer, la reprise du fameux
air de la poupée."
L'OPERA INTERNATIONAL, Philippe Thanh , 3/2000
Translation: [ " Aline Kutan was perfectly in situation as Olympia,
vocalizing with ease, knowing how to ornament without disfiguring the
refrain of the famous Doll's Aria."]
R.STRAUSS "ARIADNE AUF NAXOS" ZERBINETTA
TEATRO SAN CARLO DI NAPOLI - ITALY
"…e Aline Kutan, come Zerbinetta, questa per la cristallina
purezza del suo belcanto."
IL MATTINO, Giovanni Carli Ballola, 24/02/2000
Translation: [.and Kutan, as Zerbinetta, for the crystalline purity of
her belcanto]
R.STRAUSS "ARIADNE AUF NAXOS"
ZERBINETTA
TEATRO SAN CARLO DI NAPOLI - ITALY
"La Zerbinetta di Aline Kutan ha tenuto testa a una parte micidiale,
ed è stata la più applaudita della serata."
LA REPUBBLICA, Sandro Compagnone, 24/02/2000
Translation: [The Zerbinetta of Aline Kutan held-up to a to the test of
a deadly part and was the most applauded of the evening.]
R.STRAUSS "ARIADNE AUF NAXOS" ZERBINETTA
TEATRO SAN CARLO DI NAPOLI - ITALY
"Eccelenti anche le altre interpreti femminili: Aline Kutan, una
Zerbinetta che ha meritato gli applausi per il colore nella voce e un
virtuosismo usato con intelligenza."
AVVENIRE, Virgilio Celletti, 23/02/2000
Translation: [Excellent also the other female singers: Aline Kutan, a
Zerbinetta who merited the applauses for the color of her voice and a
virtuosity used intelligently]
DELIBES -"LAKME"
L'OPÉRA DE MONTREAL
« Dans le rôle-titre, Aline Kutan fut l'héroïne
de cette présentation. Chantant presque toujours sans regarder
son lutrin …la belle jeune fille parvint à créer un
personnage vraisemblable malgré les limites du concert, livra le
texte dans un français impeccable, et projeta toujours fermement,
mais avec naturel et délicatesse, une voix d'une absolue fraîcheur
et d'une absolue justesse. Elle reçut une ovation à tout
casser après son exécution aussi humaine qu'instrumentale
du fameux air que tous attendaient. »
LA PRESSE (MONTREAL), Claude Gingras 24/01/2000
Translation: [ In the title-role, Aline Kutan was the heroine of this
performance. Singing almost always without looking at her stand…the
beautiful young lady succeeded in creating a genuine character despite
the limits of the concert, delivered the text in an impeccable French
and always projected firmly but naturally and delicately, a voice with
an absolute freshness and an absolute accuracy. She received a grand ovation
after her execution as human as instrumental of the famous aria that everyone
was waiting for.]
DELIBES "LAKMÉ"
« Dans le rôle titre elle habitait sa Lakmé, se jouant
de toutes les redoutables difficultés de la partition pour faire
de la musique. Des vocalises à l'emporte-pièce jusqu'aux
doucereux aveux de la brahmane, sa voix porte et flotte avec une magie
quasi irréelle portant dans toute la salle. »
LE DEVOIR (MONTREAL), François Tousignant 24/01/2000
Translation : [ In the title-role, she was living her Lakme, playing with
all the fearsome difficulties of the score to make music. With the cutting-edge
vocalises until the sweet avowal of the brahmine, her voice carried and
floated with an unreal magic carrying in the whole house.]
DELIBES "LAKMÉ"
"Aline Kutan attended brilliantly to all its ups and downs. Perhaps
more critically to the over-all success of the performance, she made the
melancholy ditties of the third act (in which she betrayed no trace of
fatigue) seem sincerely expressive.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE, Arthur Kaptainis 24/01/2000
MOZART "THE MAGIC FLUTE" THE QUEEN OF
THE NIGHT
OPERA ORCHESTRA OF NEW YORK
TEMPLE OF DENDUR,
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
"Aline Kutan Queen of the Night was a stand-out; her bright, focused
soprano and confident, accurate top would be an asset in this demented,
demanding role in any house."
CLASSICAL SINGER, 12/1999
HANDEL - MESSIAH
BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC SYMPHONY
"Soprano Aline Kutan initially impressed as a sweet, pretty voice,
but revealed progressively greater vocal and interpretive strength, with
superb attention to vocal detail in Rejoice Greatly and a lovely, floating
sustained line in I Know That My Redeemer Liveth."
THE BUFFALO NEWS, Herman Trotter 12/05/1999
MOZART "MASS IN C MINOR"
(MONTREAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA)
NOTRE DAME BASILICA
'No Minor Mozart Mass'
"The quartet of Canadian soloists were led by the coloratura soprano
Aline Kutan who managed to fill the church in her two big solos in what
is known in trapeze circles as the greatest of ease. Retaining a touch
of velvet even in full flight, this singing left little to be desired."
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE, Arthur Kaptainis, 3/04/1999
MOZART "DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE" QUEEN OF
THE NIGHT
L'OPERA DE MASSY - FRANCE
"Lumineuse Reine de la Nuit, Aline Kutan pétrie d'humanité
son insolence vocale. Durant sa courte mais délicate prestation,
elle ne perd aucune note et propose un chant subtil, raffiné."
LA POPULAIRE DU CENTRE (Massy-Paris), J.-F.Julien, 29/03/1999
CONCERT FOR JEUNESSES MUSICALES
Aline Kutan.... is a high soprano with apparently unlimited access to
the stratospheric perfect fifth above high C. She gave secure performances
of the Bell Song from Lakmé and Mozart's punishing Vorrei Spiegarvi
K.418."
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE, Arthur Kaptainis 11/09/1998
R.STRAUSS "ARIADNE AUF NAXOS" ZERBINETTA
THEATRE DU CAPITOLE DE TOULOUSE -FRANCE
Aline Kutan se déploie merveilleusement dans les ascensions mieux
spiralées de Zerbinette: idéale mieux qu'aucune autre, une
fois évoqué le souvenir de l'incomparable Edita Gruberova.
OPERA INTERNATIONAL, 06/1998
Translation: ["Aline Kutan displays herself marvelously in Zerbinetta's
ascending spirals, bringing to mind a comparison to none other than the
incomparable Edita Gruberova"]
R.STRAUSS "ARIADNE AUF NAXOS" ZERBINETTA
THEATRE DU CAPITOLE DE TOULOUSE -FRANCE
Vocalises, trilles, roulades et contre-ré: la longue scène
de Zerbinette, comédienne frivole, est un feu d'artifice vocal.
Il est magnifiquement tiré par Aline Kutan.
L'EXPRESS, Franck Erikson 7/05/1998
Translation: ["Vocalises, trills, runs and a high D: the long scene
of Zerbinetta, of the frivolous actress, is one of vocal fireworks. It
is magnificantly delivered by Aline Kutan."]
R.STRAUSS "ARIADNE AUF NAXOS" ZERBINETTA
THEATRE DU CAPITOLE DE TOULOUSE -FRANCE
.Aline Kutan est une Zerbinetta de chair et de son- le son quasi miraculeux
de ses vocalisesacrobatiques, lancées avec un aplomb et en même
temps une finesse.
L'OPINION INDEPENDANTE, Laurent de Caunes 1/05/1998
Translation: ["Aline Kutan is a Zerbinetta of substance and sound
-the miraculous sound of her acrobatic vocalises, launched with confidence
and finesse."]
J.STRAUSS "DIE FLEDERMAUS" ADELE
OPERA ONTARIO
The Singing was divine. Kutan's rendition of the perennial Laughing Aria
was a wistful combination of all the best theater and music jointly offer."
THE RECORD (KITCHENER), Colleen Johnston, 06/12/1997
J.STRAUSS "DIE FLEDERMAUS" ADELE
OPERA ONTARIO
"Aline Kutan displayed the formidable coloratura as Adele, the soubrette,
that made her a winner at the 1995 Metropolitan Opera auditions."
THE GLOBE AND THE MAIL, Paula Citron 24/11/1997
J.STRAUSS "DIE FLEDERMAUS" ADELE
OPERA ONTARIO
"Aline Kutan as Adele is vocally stunning."
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR, Hugh Fraser 24/11/1997
STRAVINSKY "THE RAKE'S PROGRESS" ANNE
TRULOVE
L'OPERA DE METZ -FRANCE
"La petite mais très delicate et transparente voix d`Aline
Kutan (Anne Trulove), d'une ligne impeccable, est la seule, à faire
vraiment passer un souffle de fraîcheur et de poésie fidèle
à l'esprit stravinskien."
L'OPERA INTERNATIONAL, François Lehel, 07/97
Translation: ["The small but very delicate and transparent voice
of Aline Kutan (Anne Trulove), with an impeccable line is the only one
to really pass a breath of freshness and stay true to the poetry of stravinskien
spirit."]
MOZART "DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE" QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
L'OPERA DE TOURS - FRANCE
"A toute reine tout honneur, est-on tenté d'écrire,
tant Aline Kutan, confrontée aux difficultés au pied desquelles
toute reine de la nuit se sait attendue, déjoue les obstacles de
la partition."
LA NOUVELLE REPUBLIQUE DU CENTRE-OUEST, (France) 21/4/1997
GOUNOD "LA COLOMBE" SYLVIE
L'OPÉRA FRANÇAIS DE NEW YORK
"Her name is Aline Kutan (Sylvie), and she is tiny & round &
adorable with flashing dark eyes and a baby-doll mouth from which floats
the most adorable voice: like a combination of young Mesplé and
young Popp. The sound "speaks instantly like a glass harmonica, and
she is capable of both smooth legato and sparkly-clean coloratura--and
both effects come from the same voice with no sense of turning a switch.
She is also a delightful actress with real star quality."
PARTERRE BOX issue #25, James Jorden
GOUNOD "LA COLOMBE" SYLVIE
L'OPÉRA FRANÇAIS DE NEW YORK
"Kutan's saucy Sylvie was a tour de force of smart acting and stunning
singing, up to the impressive standard she set at her February 16 Place
des Arts recital."
THE MIRROR (MONTREAL), Philip Anson 04/1997
GOUNOD "LA COLOMBE" SYLVIE
L'OPÉRA FRANÇAIS DE NEW YORK
"...Aline Kutan, a coloratura of crystalline high notes"
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Paul Griffiths, 25/03/1997
DELIBES "LAKMÉ"
ARIZONA OPERA
"Coloratura ALINE KUTAN takes 'LAKME' to Scintillating Heights"
"The coloratura on stage...was Aline Kutan, and she was superb, often
dizzying in her show of vocal display. Kutan's performance of the famous
Bell song ..., with its rapid succession of high notes, was scintillating.
Her Flower Duet...floated and soared. But most of all, the less spectacular,
technically more reticent but expressively more demanding third-act aria,..was
rich and warm -- not qualities generally associated with Kutan's voice
type."
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Kenneth LaFave, 19/10/1996
DELIBES "LAKMÉ"
ARIZONA OPERA
"...as she rendered that masterpiece (Bell Song) I had chills up
and down my spine and willingly entered into the enthusiastic applause
as she finished!...And never have I heard a more perfect blending of voices
than in the first act duet of Kutan and mezzo-soprano Donna Ames....it
was awesomely beautiful!"
GREEN VALLEY NEWS AND SUN, Gordon Gray, 16/10/1996
DELIBES "LAKMÉ"
ARIZONA OPERA
"From the beginning of Act I, when she was heard in an ethereal chant
offstage -soaring over the chorus - she set the tone of the opera. She
displayed a limpid lyrical voice in a lullaby at her lover's sickbed and
in the love duets, as well as a facile command of the coloratura gymnastics
required for the role. In the well-known "Bell Song", which
is sort of a show within the show, she rang the rafters with the power
and agility of her delivery, leaping to the proper pitches with extraordinary
precision."
DAILY STAR, Edward Kupperstin, 13/10/1996
DELIBES "LAKMÉ"
ARIZONA OPERA
"Bells tarnished green with envy as Aline Kutan skipped through the
"Bell Song" from Delibes' opera "Lakmé". Like
a jewel, Kutan sparkled dazzlingly through the coloratura display, singing
with crisp precision and clarity, while making it all seem as easy as
a country stroll. The crowd...shouted its unanimous approval. Kutan stole
the show in her title-role portrayal of the cherished daughter... And
as impressive as her agile vocals were, the equally important lyrical
side of the taxing role was handled with the same easy grace. As an actress,
Kutan shone, imparting her character's strong emotions and deep heart".
THE CITIZEN, Daniel Buckley, 12/10/1996
MONTREAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
GLIERE'S CONCERTO FOR A COLORATURA SOPRANO OP.82
"Le plus beau moment fût sûrement la prestation impeccable
du soprano Aline Kutan qui a imposé aux spectateurs un silence
magnifique. Imitant à quelques occasions le chant des oiseaux,
sa voix claire est montée dans le ciel et je crois bien que la
foule était subjugée au point où elle en a oublié
de respirer...La douceur de son chant était telle qu'on n'osait
plus prendre de photos, de peur que le déclic de l'appareil ne
casse le charme fragile qu'elle établissait avec ceux qui l'écoutaient..."
LA RELEVE (VERCHERES), Daniel Bastin 03/08/1996
Translation: ["The best moment was without doubt the impeccable performance
by soprano Aline Kutan whose singing held the audience in a magnificent
silence. At times imitating the sound of birds, her clear voice rose to
the sky and I was sure that the audience had been bewitched to the point
where they forgot to breathe. The gentleness of her singing was such that
we didn't dare take any photos for the fear that the click of the camera
would break the fragile charm she had established with her listeners..."]
OPERA HAMILTON 'POPERA'
"...In her hesitant and blushingly adolescent interpretation, (Kutan)
made you remember that Gilda...is only an innocent teen with a crush.
In her belt-like voice, Kutan at moments used this famous aria as a prayer.
This along with her breathless 'pal-pi-ta' and Lipton's loving, take-your-time
conducting, made for a stunning performance."
THE (KITCHENER) RECORD, Colleen Johnston, 28/01/1996
OPERA HAMILTON 'POPERA'
"This evening belonged to a shining new star of opera, Aline Kutan,
who thrilled the capacity audience with every note she sang.... (Conductor)
Lipton blended all the colors of the orchestra so exquisitely with the
gossamer brilliance of Aline Kutan's soprano...that it was like a painter's
canvas on which Delibes was painting the delicate lines of the music.
Before that we had been treated to Kutan's coloratura purity in a version
of the Bell Aria that literally rang every ear in the house...Nothing
could take away from Aline Kutan's absolutely brilliant coloratura and
mime in the doll song from The Tales of Hoffman. It was the most brilliant
piece of singing and acting that we have seen for many years at Popera."
THE (HAMILTON) SPECTATOR, Hugh Fraser, 26/01/19962002
MONTREAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STANDARD LIFE CONCERT
"Aline avait choisi le premier air de la Reine de la Nuit, qui ne
contient qu'un contre-fa alors que le deuxième et plus connu en
contient quatre. Choix prudent? Chose certaine, la jeune fille a atteint
son fa aigu sans problèmes et elle a exécuté sans
peine ses rapides mélismes en doubles croches. Voici, à
n'en pas douter, un vrai coloratura, comme l'a ensuite confirmé
son exécution du long solo sans accompagnement qui ouvre "l'Air
des Clochettes" de Lakmé. A ces qualités de base s'ajoutent
une voix belle et juste, une interprétation qui a du caractère
et une radieuse personalité scénique. Une future star, aucun
doute là-dessus."
LA PRESSE (MONTREAL), Claude Gingras, 12/1993
Translation: [ "Aline Kutan chose the first Queen of the Night aria
which contains only one high F whereas the second and more well known
aria contains four. A wise choice? Absolutely. The young girl reached
the F without any problem and she painlessly executed the rapid sixteenth-note
melismas. Her voice is, without doubt, a true coloratura, which she confirmed
with her performance of the long unaccompanied solo that opens the "Bell
Song" by Lakmé. To these basic qualities add a lovely and
true voice, an interpretation full of character and a radiant stage personality.
No doubt about it, she'll be a future star."]
MONTREAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STANDARD LIFE CONCERT
"The surprise of the afternoon was Aline Kutan. She sang an aria
from Mozart's Magic Flute very well, but her interpretation of the 'Bell
Song' from Delibes' opera Lakmé was absolutely ravishing. Her steady,
attractive voice showed excellent control in this difficult piece, which
she rendered with sensitivity and amazing dynamic nuances. Kutan may be
an operatic star in the making."
THE (MONTREAL) GAZETTE, Ilse Zadrozny, 12/6/1993
