Rita, Chicago Opera Theater
“The luscious tonal and physical beauty, fluent coloratura and vivacious stage presence Mortellaro brings to the title role makes us root for [her] right out of the gate.” - Chicago Tribune, 2018
Juliette, ROMEO ET JULIETE Minnesota Opera
As Juliette, Angela Mortellaro’s crisp and agile soprano voice offers a fluttering girlishness to the role, and her energetic performance draws the eye throughout. In her sure-footed rendition of Act I aria “Je veux vivre,” Mortellaro shows a pleasing mix of delicacy and acrobatics in vocal interpretation, all while traversing tabletops and chairs…
Adina, L'ELISIR D'AMORE, Dorset Opera Festival
"Mortellaro was a perfect Adina...The US Soprano Angela Mortellaro made Adina’s pragmatic rather than hard-headed desirability obvious from the start. Her lightly ironic Tristan cavatina set the tone of her playing her two suitors off against each other with a seductive authority that made her capitulation all the more appealing. Mortellaro’s singing had great vitality, technically she was light and spontaneous, and she had great comic timing. Peter Reed, Opera Magazine
THAÏS, Florida Grand Opera
“Mortellaro took the role of Thaïs… She was perfect. It was a tour de force performance with a soprano who embodied the role dramatically as well as vocally. Mortellaro proved with this performance that she is a soprano destined for big things.
It almost seemed at times that Massenet’s score was tailored specifically for her voice. She glittered, sparkled, laughed, screamed and cried her way, operatically of course, through this three-hour production.
The high D at the end of the [Act 2 Aria “Dis moi que je suis belle”] was nothing short of spectacular. Her final scene in Act Three moved many of the audience members to tears…
Jack Gardner, EDGEMiami
“Mortellaro was a different matter entirely. From the moment we see her, she is young and full of life. Her act one finale was bright, crisp and soaring. …The contrast between the perky and vibrate act one priestess and the almost morose act two woman is sharply defined. Mortellaro makes that break with sharp precision. When the crown comes off, so does the act…. With not a note to be sung Mortellaro sold the moment.”
Nate Sykes, The Shot Glass Review
Lucia, LUCI DI LAMMERMOOR, Opera North
“Stellar,” “Heart-wrenching” …. Mortellaro, who had already performed the role for the Dayton Opera, delivered a brilliant performance, especially for such a young singer. She sang accurately and expressively with her supple voice, drawing the audience in with every phrase. Her “Mad Scene” was riveting — and heart-wrenching.
Jim Lowe, Vermont News
Lucia, LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, Dayton Opera
“Better still was the Lucia of Angela Mortellaro, whose large, rich voice was a distinct contrast to the tweety-bird chirping often heard in this role. Joshua Kohl's Edgardo added a handsome presence to the duo — a most attractive pair of lovers….Mortellaro, vocally sound and solid, with velvet warmth and perfectly presented high notes, delivered a gripping mad scene." Charles Parsons, Opera News
Despina, COSI FAN TUTTE, Minnesota Opera
“A bonus in the comedy department comes from Angela Mortellaro, who gives us a foxy — rather than the usual earthy — version of Despina, the maid, displaying expert comic timing and a sweet soprano voice.” Michael Anthony, MinnPost.com
“Angela Mortellaro proves a scene stealer as the sisters' maid. Even if you've seen this Minnesota Opera resident artist over the course of several productions, you might not recognize her, for she has a great character actor's gift for disappearing into a role.” Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press, TwinCities.com
Gretel, HANSEL AND GRETEL, Opera Maine
“Mortellaro was beautiful to watch on stage. She is a graceful young woman and a natural actor, commanding the audience's attention without pulling us out of the scene.”
Emily Parkhurst, Classical Voice of New England
Gretel, HANSEL AND GRETEL, Sarasota Opera
“Angela Mortellaro was an exceptionally convincing Gretel, the petite soprano credible as a playful young girl, singing with a rich, youthful soprano voice and strongly conveying Gretel’s terror at being lost in the woods.”
Lawrence A. Johnson, South Florida Classical Review
CHAUTAUQUA CONCERT
“Angela Mortellaro has the telegenic looks currently sought in opera, as well as an appealing lyric-coloratura soprano that carries at the top (she capped the Lucia Sextet with a secure hight D flat)…. her Rigoletto staccati were skillfully done.”
David Shengold, The Chautauquan Daily