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Iphigenia the Elder
...(Iphigenia)
THE KENNEDY CENTER (WORLD PREMIERE) & ON TOUR
"Spalding's companion chorus of Iphigenia's was beautifully sung throughout by contralto Sharmay Musacchio as Iphigenia the Elder."
THE WASHINGTON POST
"...including Sharmay Musacchio as Iphigenia the Elder, keep the enthralling cast. This score is an operatic landmark and the performance captures that.”
LA TIMES
"Most distinct is Iphigenia the Elder; Sharmay Musacchio is an extraordinary contralto who pulls out the stops in terms of range and colors.”
DC METRO THEATRE ARTS
“...excellent Iphigenia's included Sharmay Musacchio, with her impressive contralto.”
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"Musacchio is that rarest of voices, a
TRUE CONTRALTO,
and she plumbed some remarkable subterranean depths that one rarely hears from a female singer."
CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW
Mrs. Grose
The Turn of the Screw
NEW YORK CITY OPERA
"The rich-voiced contralto Sharmay Musacchio is wonderful as the well-meaning, baffled and finally desperate housekeeper, Mrs. Grose."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
"Musacchio shines as the housekeeper with fantastic acting chops and a rich contralto voice that luxuriates
in the lower tones of her register."
BERKSHIRE FINE ARTS
"...Sharmay Musacchio, a stentorian Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper."
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"Excellent as well are contralto Sharmay Musacchio as the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose...."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Ms. Jakubiak's crisp soprano lines coupled with Sharmay Musacchio's full-bodied contralto tones as the housekeeper mixed perfectly to add stark contrasts in the tonal musical line. The drastic shifts and transformation these two characters go through, as mirrored in the 12-tone structure of the music, was well portrayed on the stage."
OPERA WORLD WITH BWW REVIEWS
"Sharmay Musacchio, in her NYCO debut, was a touching Mrs. Grose and negotiated the wide range of her part with her powerful contralto voice."
I CARE IF YOU LISTEN
"Sharmay Musacchio’s firm contralto helped ground Mrs. Grose, the clueless housekeeper."
NEW YORK POST
“Mezzo-soprano Sharmay Musacchio, proved herself to be highly effective in ‘O thou that tallest good tidings’ and
her rich alto voice delivered a
powerful message
on 'He Was Despised.'"
SAN DIEGO ARTS TRIBUNE
Frasquita
El Gato Montés
LOS ANGELES OPERA
“Sharmay Musacchio deployed her rich mezzo with matronly compassion to Frasquita, the mother of Rafael the Toreo, especially touching when she was comforting Soleà in her excitement at his return to the village at the top of Act I.”
PARTERRE BOX
"....Furthermore, Sharmay Musacchio's Frasquita is a welcomed and soothing veteran presence on the stage...."
LA EXCITES
“......worrisome mother Frasquita (Sharmay Musacchio) is allowed to rise as a superior singer...”
LA TIMES
"....El Gato Montés was helped by an excellent cast. As Frasquita, Rafael's mother, Sharmay Musacchio provided fine support for the principals..."
OPERAWIRE
"As the mother, Frasquita, American contralto Sharmay Musacchio delivered a solid vocal and acting performance..."
LIVING OUT LOUD LA
and star-studded cast."
SPECTACULAR
“Last but not least... Sharmay Musacchio as Giovanna makes up a
RIGOLETTO, LA OPERA
LA EXCITES
Auntie
The Scarlet Ibis
CHICAGO OEPRA THEATER
“Contralto Sharmay Musacchio boasted formidable chest tones as the quaintly superstitious Auntie...”
OPERA NEWS
“The superstitious Auntie, Sharmay Musacchio, is a superb singing-actor...”
STAGE AND CINEMA
“As the kindly yet superstitious Auntie who sees “bad omens” in everything, Sharmay Musacchio was amusing and occasionally irritating, as intended. Musacchio is that rarest of voices, a true contralto, and she plumbed some remarkable subterranean depths that one rarely hears from a female singer...”
CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW
“Sharmay Musacchio helps create a rich and deeply connected family unit as Auntie. The maturity and sheer power of her vocal talent is nothing short of a modern marvel.”
CHICAGOLAND MUSIC THEATER
“Also standing out was Sharmay Musacchio as Auntie, who provided a few moments of comic relief. The contralto adroitly handles the appealing barrel notes that were included for this character...”
CLASSICAL VOICE AMERICA
“....These were stellar vocal performances- all, with startling moments too, such as when contralto, Sharmay Musacchio summoned baritone notes from beneath her toes.”
PICTURE THIS POST
“Auntie is sung by a true contralto, Sharmay Musacchio, who sings the lowest notes I’ve ever heard from a woman...”
CHIILLIVE SHOWS
Zita
Gianni Schicchi
SARASOTA OPERA, OPERA SOUTHWEST, PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT, ETC.
“Sharmay Musacchio was a powerhouse as Zita, her beautifully colored contralto slicing through proceedings with incisive appeal and stature. As the White Cat in the French opus [L'enfant et les sortileges], Ms. Musacchio trades in her deviousness for a slinking, warmly vocalized feline that would bewitch even an avowed dog lover.”
OPERA TODAY
"...contralto Sharmay Musacchio is most impressive with her booming voice as Zita, the Matriarch of the Donati family and does so again in the double bill as the steely-toned Princess."
ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
Mistress Quickly
Falstaff
PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT
"Sharmay Musacchio's rich dark sound and expressive ability made her an imposing Mistress Quickly."
OPERA TODAY
"Musacchio, whose lowest notes are warm
caramel... Sharmay Musacchio as Mistress Quickly provided characterful, winning singing and deftly handled funny business, vocally and physically."
LOS ANGELES TIMES
"Sharmay Musacchio as Mistress Quickly played a driving character with her lovely contralto, going toe-to-toe with Falstaff in both trying and succeeding in outwitting the wit..."
LA SPLASH
"Musacchio sparks several scenes as the sassy, snappy Mistress Quickly."
LA WEEKLY
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote
Orange Snapping Turtle
BODHI TREE CONCERTS (WORLD PREMIERE)
"Sharmay Musacchio gave her Orange Snapping Turtle exactly the gleefully malevolent bite required."
SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE
[After the snapping turtle's aria] on Saturday, Musacchio bounced down the setps and into the crowd before leaving through a side door. The audience broke into launghter and applause."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
"The orange snapping turtle played by the contralto Sharmay Musacchio, who guards a wall that is meant to keep Pancho out. As [the final scene of liberation] plays, the Orange Snapping Turtle steps out, campy and animated, and seeming to imitate the distinctive off-balance dance style of Mr. Trump."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
La Frugola
Il Tabarro
ONSITE OPERA
“These were stock characters, played to the hilt. Yet, where Tabarro is virtually a Grand Guignol tragedy, Puccini couldn’t help some comedy. This was La Frugola, the scavenger, and this was the absolutely delightful contralto Sharmay Musacchio, her voice, her movements, her wondrous paean to her cat all the perfect interval.”
CLASSICAL MUSIC NETWORK
"All the principals were excellent...With pedestrians wandering around the perimeter at the pier, the comings and goings of La Frugola (the charming contralto Sharmay Musacchio) whose movements were fluid and subtle."
NEW YORK CLASSICAL REVIEW
Sharmay Musacchio was hilarious as La Frugola, singing an aria about herpurring cat: “Hrun, Hrun, Hrun...”
PARTERRE BOX
"...La Frugola, played with marvelous low voice and comic spirit by SharmayMusacchio. The scene in which she distributes the many treasures of her dumpster diving served to lighten the atmosphere."
VOCE DI MECHE
Ruinous Gods
Swift/Dr. Overcast
SPOLETO FESTIVAL, USA
“Contralto Sharmay Musacchio deployed impressive low notes as Swift (another one of the children) and as Dr. Overcast”
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Eunice
A Streetcar Named Desire
FRESNO GRAND OPERA
"It was exciting to see the talented Sharmay Musacchio as the neighbor Mrs.Hubbell.."
THE FRESNO BEE
"A valkyrie onstage."
BRAD DALTON, STAGE DIRECTOR
Voice of the Mother
Les contes d'Hoffmann
LOS ANGELES OPERA
".....following the brilliantly performed trio (sung with California contralto Sharmay Musacchio as the voice of Antonia's Mother...)"
OPERA WAR HORSES
"...and the spirit of her departed mother, winningly sung by Sharmay Musacchio. (The role also demanded that Musacchio, in the form of a powder-white statue, stand stock still for around 20 minutes until activated by the Villain.)"
OFF RAMP
Maid of Mahagonny
The Rise and Fall of Mahagonny
LOS ANGELES OPERA
“Contralto Sharmay Musacchio was quite good as one of the cartoonishly wicked Maidens of Mahagonny, in LA Opera’s production of ‘The Rise and Fall of Mahagonny.'”
OPERA WEST
The Yeomen of the Guard
Dame Carruthers
WINTER OPERA OF ST. LOUIS
"Contralto Sharmay Musacchio was powerful vocally and dramatically secure as Dame Carruthers the Towers Housekeeper..."
ST. LOUIS DISPATCH
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