Fedora, Teatro Grattacielo
"Johnson was very much the star of this diva showcase, and she delivered with the full-throttle intensity verismo calls for. This opulent-voiced singer clearly knows her Muzio and her Olivero. She maintained total dramatic commitment, and wielded her big, wide-ranging instrument with aplomb without ever stinting on textual insight. Rich top notes were matched by thrilling descents into the chest register, and she used glottal attacks sparingly but effectively. She is an ideal champion of the verismo style."
~Eric Myers, Opera News
Cavalleria Rusticana, Madison Opera
"Soprano Michelle Johnson plays into her character's agony in gorgeous arias that shake with emotion. One of the most poignant moments comes courtesy of Johnson in an Easter hymn outside the church "inneggiamo, il Signor non è morto"
~Lindsay Christian
"Johnson was very much the star of this diva showcase, and she delivered with the full-throttle intensity verismo calls for. This opulent-voiced singer clearly knows her Muzio and her Olivero. She maintained total dramatic commitment, and wielded her big, wide-ranging instrument with aplomb without ever stinting on textual insight. Rich top notes were matched by thrilling descents into the chest register, and she used glottal attacks sparingly but effectively. She is an ideal champion of the verismo style."
~Eric Myers, Opera News
Cavalleria Rusticana, Madison Opera
"Soprano Michelle Johnson plays into her character's agony in gorgeous arias that shake with emotion. One of the most poignant moments comes courtesy of Johnson in an Easter hymn outside the church "inneggiamo, il Signor non è morto"
~Lindsay Christian
Aida, Knoxville Opera
"In the title role of Aida was soprano Michelle Johnson, a singer whose power and clarity were perfect for the character. Johnson's familiarity with the role showed up here as confidence in painting an emotional portrait in motion, riding the rhythm of feelings from elation to despair. Her "Ritorna vincitor" in Act I was a vivid statement of anguish, while the Act Iii "O patria mia" was a particularly haunting aria, supported by a lusciously played oboe accompaniment." ~Alan Sherrod, Arts Knoxville |
La fanciulla del West, Kentucky Opera
"In Ms. Johnson's "Oh! se sapeste come il vivere e allego" she absolutely lights up the theater with a clear and evoking soprano emitting Minnie's love of life, and I think Michelle's love of singing about life as well. Often times I believed Ms. Johnson was Ninnie." ~Annette Skaggs, Arts-Louisville Met Opera Grand Finals "There was a clear audience favorite, also a winner: Michelle Johnson, a soprano from Pearland, Tex., who brought gleaming sound to the meltingly lyrical aria "Io son l'umile ancella" from Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, then sang a clean-lined and lyrically arching account of "Dove sono" from Mozart's Nozze di Figaro.” ~Anthony Tommasini, New York Times |