Aida (1913 Edition), Arena di Verona, August 2024

 

"Maria José Siri was very much appreciated: a submissive Aida entirely played on caressing “mezzevoci” and a good breath control ..."
OperaClick

"Maria José Siri, as expected, was very good in the title role... ...Maria José Siri is true to herself, she has an important and well extended voice... ... she sings everything “on the breath”: her “O cieli azzurri” is like a caress for the ear and the soul."
L’Ape Musicale

"...Aida. Which was interpreted by Maria José Siri, a highly professional singer: she was very much in tune and confident in the high notes..."
Verona Fedele

"The cast is solid, starting with Maria José Siri, a veteran of the role... The voice is full, with radiant high notes and brilliant colours... ...the Uruguayan soprano is a great performer..."
Forum Opéra

"Maria José Siri, in the title role, gave life to a protagonist who hid, behind a submissive appearance, a strong will: she demonstrated vocal control and clarity of phonation, even in the most whispered pianissimi. The role of Aida, with its nuances that veer into the blues and the transparencies of a musicality that is never shouted, yet solid, was well mastered by the Uruguayan soprano, who defied the weather conditions of a night that was at times suffocating due to the heat."
Opera Mundus

"Maria José Siri took on the role of Aida with grace and strength. It was my first time witnessing her in this role, and I sincerely hope it won’t be the last. She delivered a poignant and moving performance, truly embodying the character’s tragic arc."
Opera Diary

"Uruguayan-born Maria José Siri is a highly demanded lyric soprano of the international panorama. Her Aida impresses with her calm voice, no dramatic peaks, but in a submissive control as the slave and daughter dominate her skillfully crafted performance. In her Nile aria and in the final duet, she shows a fine legato technique and clear intonation."
Opera Online

"Siri: unparalleled protagonist [...].
In the interview on these pages, we have covered the iridescent power of Siri's voice. Her finale with Radamès is exceptional: ethereal and sidereal with her filati and luminous pianissimi."
L’Arena

"Maria José Siri took on the role of Aida with consummate skill and professionalism: none of the critically difficult passages, e.g. the pianissimo high C’s in 'Cieli azzurri', were missed. She sang with extreme softness, never forcing a sound, but rather with a very controlled phonation and soulful sweetness, both in the love phrases and in the invocations. She sang with a decisive and imperious accent in the duet of the Act III with Radames. She was greatly celebrated in a triumphant success that greeted the whole company in an endless applause, even past one o’clock in the morning."
I Teatri dell’Est

"In the title role, María José Siri... She makes the most of the deepest and most intimate passages to give voice to a piece that takes full advantage of her musicality, nuances and the fruity timbre of her voice. Her
pianissimi, totally mastered, were particularly applauded..."
Ôlyrix

"María José Siri as Aida was another highlight. The Uruguayan soprano brought the character to life with a mix of strength and sensitivity, captivating the audience with her "O patria mia." ...Siri managed to convey Aida's tragedy with genuine lyricism, especially in the final duet: her singing was delicate and moving, she demonstrated her great vocal control on a stage as vast as the Arena of Verona."
By Battaglia

"Maria José Siri reprises the role as the lead character after having portrayed her just a few weeks earlier in the aforementioned Poda production. On this occasion the soprano appears to be in excellent form and, thanks to a flexible and confident vocal instrument, brilliantly overcomes the difficulties of the score. She provides a convincing interpretation of the character, by means of filati and mezze voci, with particular focus on the intimate and romantic side of the Ethiopian princess. A beautiful performance embellished by a finely crafted phrasing."
Opera Libera

"Maria José Siri showed, in her characterization of the Ethiopian princess, a particular care which was centered on a calibrated, robust as well as sensitive, moving voice. It was particularly striking for the attention paid to the expressiveness and for the refined colour of a phrasing that was always carefully chiselled. Her character, by no means conventional, was in perfect harmony with the intimate nature of Verdi's score."
I Teatri dell’Est

"...the cast is excellent, starting from the eponymous role, played by the soprano Maria José Siri, elegant and well experienced in Verdi roles. Her vocal quality... is striking in accents, pathos and from a technical point of view. Her interpretative key shows the audience an Aida who is constantly in contact with her inner self, through an intimate singing which makes us perceive all the internal conflict of the character."
StreetNews.it

"The cast is convincing, with Uruguayan María José Siri playing the title role. Her Aida is solid and can count on a strong vocal instrument and robust technical skills. The rendering was good, both musically and theatrically..."
ArtesNews