L'AMORE DEI TRE RE – Sarasota Opera
Sarasota Herald Tribune “Soprano Carol Ann Manzi sizzles in her role….rich vocal lines have a smoldering sensuality….strong voice and dramatic talent…”
Long Boat Observer “….smoothed into a beautifully crafted portrait of a confused young woman with more passion than good sense – and a voice that was riveting in its beauty and fervor….”
Venice Sun “……most believable – thrilling vocal intensity of (her )scenes left one breathless…….vocal lines outstanding, in total control……”
The Watermark “…beautifully performed with compelling and extraordinary voices of the four central characters……loaded with high drama and talent that rivals any major company worldwide……”
LA RONDINE – Sarasota Opera
Florence Fischer, Sarasota Herald Tribune “The beautiful melodies and especially the gorgeous vocal quality of Carol Ann Manzi as Magda is reason enough to see and hear this opera. Her singing in the first act of the aria (Chi il bel sogno), and throughout the entire opera is a dream of exquisite pianissimi and the full round tones of a lyric soprano voice in full bloom. Her persona has an innocent vulnerability, which makes her lovable either as the mistress or the shy working girl.”
Irene Herman, The East County Observer “Manzi, a lyric soprano with warm mellow overtones, is a lovely Magda. Her beautifully controlled pianissimi were a joy to listen to. She was convincing both as the sophisticated mistress and the simple working girl.”
Tim Smith, Opera Magazine “As Magda, Carol Ann Manzi contributed warmly shaded vocalism with pianissimo notes that floated nicely and a convincing portrayal.”
LA BOHEME – Sarasota Opera
Joan Griffith, Black tie Magazine (Sarasota, FL) “It’s hard to imagine a better performance than Carol Ann Manzi’s emotional range in the role of the ill-fated flower girl, from a vibrant Mi chiamano Mimì in Act I to the final death scene.”
William Weaver, Financial Times “Carol Ann Manzi’s Mimi brought the house down. Sarasota patrons will be wise to save their programme book: many now obscure names in it are bound to become more widely known.”
Byron Belt, Newhouse News Service “…several singers must really be singled out by name because they – I’m sure, will soon be adorning major opera or concert stages. The wonderfully tender and touching La Bohème shimmered particularly in the delicate Mimì of Carol Ann Manzi.”
Sarasota Herald Tribune “Manzi achieved her best singing and acting in the third and fourth acts with her aria, Donde lieta, and her death scene. Here, beginning with Sono andati, her ringing high B-flat had the needed edge and volume to convey Mimì’s despair.”
Tampa Tribune “Carol Ann Manzi’s Mimì, tenderly sung…”
F. Warren O’Reilly, American Record Guide “Soprano Carol Ann Manzi revealed impressive vocal and dramatic talent as Mimì”.
VERDI CONCERT – Sarasota Opera
Richard Storm, Sarasota Herald Tribune “The first half, music by Verdi’s friends, was distinguished by the superior vocalism and musicianship of Carol Ann Manzi….soprano Manzi brought a rather unruly audience to appreciative silence with the beautiful phrasing and floating pianissimi she applied to pieces (by Toscanini)….Manzi returned with ravishing interpretations of six German songs by Ferdinand Hiller….neither (the) compositional sophistication nor technical difficulty was apparent in Manzi’s effortless performance.”
GUGLIELMO RATCLIFF by Mascagni, at Alice Tully Hall, with Teatro Grattacielo
Das Opernglas “……sympathetically sung….”
Opera News “showed verismo commitment in her fervent Maria”
New York Times “…..strong soloist……”
TheatreScene.net “. . . sang stirringly and cleanly of her passion and joined (Bartolini) in an intense climactic duet.”
The Westsider “…limpid-toned, appealing and vulnerable.”
GayCityNews.com “ …..clearly well versed in verismo and with an aptly italianate timbre…..”
Opera-L (listserv) “Carol Ann Manzi, whom I had seen recently with the great Sarasota Opera Company, was excellent…. the voice is beautiful, large and she floated some lovely pianissimi.”
I PAGLIACCI – Opera Theater of Connecticut
Robert Cumming, The Trumpeter “I Pagliacci was especially well done, with soprano Carol Ann Manzi as a world-class Nedda. Hers was an exciting performance, with fire, flair and feminine pulchritude in abundance.”
VERDI REQUIEM – Hartford Chorale
Steve Metcalf, The Hartford Courant “Manzi was brilliant. All through the piece she did some amazingly subtle and imaginative things, especially with her high notes. No lack of operatic fire here – her work on the final Libera Me was almost beyond praise…she put a thrilling personal stamp on this difficult, register-hopping music.”
Kenneth Irons, Hartford Advocate “Carol Ann Manzi… progressed to a most enthralling performance, her pianissimo passages possessing a crystalline quality which projected effortlessly over chorus and orchestra.”
LA BOHEME (Musetta) – Connecticut Opera
Steve Metcalf, Hartford Courant “Carol Ann Manzi elected to play Musetta with, how shall we say, no restraints. This approach can be dangerous as well as annoying, but she is a natural commedienne and the result was brilliant. Her famous waltz was a triumph….”
Carol Lechner, Hartford Advocate “Carol Ann Manzi as Musetta, whose bawdy and boisterous theatricality dominated…her waltz song, was stupendously vain and sensuous.”
LA BOHEME (Mimì) – Greensboro Opera
The News and Record “…..sang Mimi with strong feeling and a voice that could soar above the orchestra but also could sustain a pianissimo that was utterly gorgeous. 1st and 3rd act arias were beautiful….”
LA TRAVIATA – Eugene Opera
The Register Guard Verdi's Opera depends on the versatility of the soprano. Manzi has a warm, supple voice that allows her to cover all the styles of this most difficult of roles. She was especially effective in those heart rending passages that call for soft, legato singing, to which she added a wealth of acting ability.
LA TRAVIATA – Opera Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara News-Press “…..expert singing….. singing both nuanced and expressive and her soft dynamic range was exquisite. Her acting was equally persuasive, completely realistic…..”
L’ARLESIANA – Sarasota Opera
The Venice Gondolier “Carol Ann Manzi, a lovely Mimi last season, sang like an angel, lighting up the stage on her entrance. Her pianissimi were ravishing and her second act aria was breathtaking.”
The Sarasota Herald Tribune “Soprano, Carol Ann Manzi as Vivetta was the very essence of saintly patience…..her pretty voice was equal to both the lyrical and dramatic demands of the role.”