“…the clear star of this production is Elza van den Heever, who artfully combines body language and communicative singing to portray the hope and determination of Leonore but also her doubts and obvious discomfort with a disguised identity[…] The South African soprano is at her absolute best in Leonore’s big aria in Act 1, drawing on a range of sometimes dark-tinged vocal timbres to subtly and powerfully inhabit all the character’s contradictory emotions, generating an unusually long and well-deserved ovation.”
” The role of Leonore is taken on by the formidable soprano Elza van den Heever, whose performance is a masterclass in both vocal dexterity and emotional depth. Her rendition of “Abscheulicher!” was breathtaking, filled with passion and dramatic tension, perfectly conveying Leonore’s unwavering determination to save her beloved.”