reviews
December 2nd, 2009 | RSS Feeds | Posted In:“Lieder are …… small, fine, often intimate miniatures [and] a good singer will sensitively create their “microcosmos.” Valda Wilson achieved just this. She captured the charm of the Fêtes Galantes and the Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé of Debussy, and entered fully into the intricacies and individuality of each Lied. Even before each piece began, her face reflected the specific nature of these miniature worlds. She underlined her song with small, clear gestures. Her heartfelt, very resonant and flexible voice, which even in the higher register rings beautifully and remains pliant, adapted wonderfully to this space.”
~ Ingrid Gerk, Der Neue Merker (March 2012 issue)
“Right at the beginning, the clear, assuredly-produced soprano voice of Valda Wilson as Inez makes one’s ears prick up with its lyrical charisma and vibrancy; truly a pity that this part is so brief”
Boris Michael Gruhl, Kultur, January 2012
The young soprano Valda Wilson possesses a steady sound and pure pitch… [and] has an excellent understanding of the gestures and tonal qualities required for singing Lieder…. She began with songs by Debussy in which she added light and dark overtones to her very clear soprano to effect moods of cheer or melancholy… She also sculpted Hugo Wolf’s Lieder beautifully….capturing a highly sensitive sound when required such as in ” Wenn du, mein Liebster, steigst zum Himmel auf.”
Ausgabe der Leipziger Volkszeitung 1/2/2012
Liederabend – Semperoper 29th January 2012 by Boris Michael Gruhl.
The program was framed by two Liebesliedern from Johannes Brahms ‘Neue Liebeslieder’ in which the voice of Australian Valda Wilson stood out ……
Valda Wilson’s exceptionally beautiful voice and mature creative power were especially impressive and also evident in her solo presentations. She demonstrated diverse vocal and interpretative skills with the French song ‘La fille de l’air’ by Giocomo Meyerbeer, the Lied ‘Die stille Lotosblume’ by Clara Schumann, as well as Juliette’s aria from ‘Romeo et Juliette’ by Charles Gounod where she showed true talent for coloratura.
The master-stroke was her sophisticated performance of two songs by Richard Strauss, ‘Das Rosenband’ and ‘Heimliche Aufforderung’, which the audience rewarded with unanimous enthusiasm and bravos. Despite possessing all the makings of a fine singer, Valda Wilson’s presence is always very natural and unaffected.
This is a name to remember.
~ Ingrid Gerk – Semperoper: MATINEE MIT DEM ‘JUNGEN ENSEMBLE’ – 18.09.2011
http://www.der-neue-merker.eu/mod,criticism/id_content,0/id_menuitem,15
The outstanding performance of the evening was given by Valda Wilson in the title role of Simplicius Simplicissimus. She effortlessly changed from a childlike lyrical tone to powerful vocals. Her acting was also very convincing. …….
Blessed is he who has such talent in his young ensemble.
Musik in Dresden
Date: 22 October 2011 | Author: Oliver Geisler| Category: Reviews
In der Titelrolle legte die junge australische Sopranistin Valda Wilson …… Stimmlich ausgezeichnet, gelang es ihr, die hölzernen Bewegungen eines tollpatschigen Burschen so nachzuahmen, dass man fast vergaß, ein junges hübsches Mädchen auf der Bühne zu sehen.
In the title role the young Australian soprano Valda Wilson [was]…. vocally excellent, she managed to imitate the wooden movements of clumsy boys so well that one almost forgot that a young pretty woman was onstage.
Udo Pacolt,
http://www.der-neue-merker.eu/mod,criticism/category,musiktheater/id_content,0/id_submenuitem,16/id_referer,15/getlevel,1/id_menuitem,15
‘Valda Wilson, presently attached to the Semper Oper at Dresden, sang Fauré’s Pie Jesu and the Alleluia from Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate with the perfect amalgam of vocal poise and unblemished innocence.’
~ Norman Lebrecht on the Service of Thanksgiving for Dame Joan Sutherland in Westminster Abbey, Arts Journal, Slipped Disc (Feb 2011)
‘Valda Wilson…. was hand chosen by Richard Bonynge to perform [at the Westminster Abbey Service of Thanksgiving for Dame Joan Sutherland]…… a beautiful rendition of Fauré’s Pie Jesu and a perky Alleluia from Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, which demonstrated some nimble coloratura….. We can confidently expect to hear more from Valda Wilson in the future.’
~ Antony Lias, Opera Brittania (Feb 2011)
‘Mit ihrer außergewöhnlich schönen, zu Herzen gehenden Stimme
bot Valda Wilson als Mitglied dieses Ensembles mit der Arie der Barbarina aus „Figaros Hochzeit“ eine bereits sehr reife Leistung.’
['With her exceptionally beautiful, straight-to-the-heart voice, Valda Wilson gave an already very mature performance.']
~Ingrid Gerk, Semperoper, 18. PREISTRÄGERKONZERT – 24.10.2010
‘The voice of this young woman is certainly one of the best ever heard on stage at the Grand Theatre de Geneve for many years.
Her “Je marche sur tous les chemins“ of Massenet’s Manon revealed a subtle musicality in a voice as ‘aerial qu’aérée’ which is reminiscent of a certain Victoria de Los Angeles, who celebrated first prize at the Geneva Competition in 1947 .
Armed with vocal simplicity disarming and exemplary, she set the bar of the music very high early in the final round.’
~ Jacques Schmitt, ResMusica, November 2009.