Larry Ho / LA Opera
Press & Reviews.
JJ Geiger / Long Beach Opera
Long Beach Opera
Idleness (The Romance of the Rose)
world premiere
"Idleness (Tiffany Townsend) and Pleasure (Bernardo Bermudez) entertain as amiably self-centered lounge singers."
Los Angeles Times
"Tiffany Townsend...brings rich-toned gusto to Idleness."
The New York Times
"Idleness (Tiffany Townsend) and Pleasure (Bernardo Bermudez), the God of Love’s henchmen, duet on a delectable torch song, which is both sincere and a sendup."
The Wall Street Journal
LA Opera
Léontine (The Anonymous Lover)
"The backbone of the opera is a series of bravura arias for Léontine—think Fiordiligi in Mozart's "Così fan tutte"—as the heroine gradually shifts her position from "Never again" to "Yes, I will." Tiffany Townsend proved equal to the role's challenges with a powerhouse soprano and expressive presence."
The Wall Street Journal
"Tiffany Townsend portrayed Léontine as regal and potent throughout, her voice showing great dramatic range in her second Act aria, especially with much of her performance presented in silhouette. Despite not being able to fully see her face throughout, the intensity in her voice allowed you to connect with the desperation Léontine was feeling in these moments."
OperaWire
"As the befuddled Léontine, soprano Tiffany Townsend charmed with her clear, limpid voice and sympathetic dramatic portrayal."
Observer
"All are winning, especially the leads, Tiffany Townsend and Robert Stahley."
Los Angeles Times
"As Léontine, Townsend made use of her potent, glowing soprano."
Seen and Heard International
Larry Ho / LA Opera
Larry Ho / LA Opera
Press Feature
(LA Opera)
"Opera is anything but ordinary, and this company premiere production of The Anonymous Lover is definitely extraordinary for many reasons.
The singers, especially, approached every detail in entirely new ways. So, while rehearsals were still taking place, we pulled soprano Tiffany Townsend aside in between Léontine’s arias (and at a safe 6-foot distance) for a one minute catch-up to give us her quick thoughts."
Press Feature
(The Philadelphia Tribune)
"Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Tiffany Townsend never thought of herself as an opera singer. Instead, she focused on a career as a classical concert pianist.
'I studied the piano all through school, even went on to receive my B.A. in music from Millsaps College,' Townsend says.
In addition to pursuing her degree, Townsend also had a job as a church musician, playing a lot of gospel music.
She says, 'One day at rehearsal, a voice teacher heard me singing and suggested I take voice lessons. I was flattered and agreed because it seemed like it would be an interesting thing to do. And in doing so, we found out I had an operatic voice.'"
Opera Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Opera Philadelphia
Ninetta (Love for Three Oranges)
"Tiffany Townsend was a ravishing vocal presence as the (surviving) Princess Ninetta. Ms. Townsend’s lustrous, creamy tone has spinto leanings, and her instrument sounds wondrously even and ravishing at all volumes and in all registers. This young talent is certainly a singer to watch as her star is sure to rise."
Opera Today
"Ninetta was the lush-voiced Tiffany Townsend, whose soprano soared effortlessly through the Academy of Music. Prokofiev saved all of his melodic impulses and grand phrases for that one magical moment, and she seized it."
Seen and Heard International
"Tiffany Townsend, lending depth and tremendous vocal power to her role as the sweet Princess in the orange... "
Bachtrack
"Standouts in the large, game cast included [...] Tiffany Townsend."
The Wall Street Journal
"Mississippi soprano Tiffany Townsend sang gloriously in the role of the surviving princess Ninetta."
Opera Warhorses
"Princess Ninetta, beautifully sung by soprano Tiffany Townsend. Her performance had a purity about it, one without guile. There was no hint of, 'Isn’t this too ridiculous? I’m being rescued from an oversized orange and performing in this madcap show.'”
operatoonity.com
Curtis Opera Theatre
Brenda (Empty the House)
"Tiffany Townsend used her rich voice and interpretive talent to make Brenda reveal her sorrowful, tormented soul.”
"Soprano Tiffany Townsend captured Brenda’s giddiness at her hopes for a new life once she is gone from a house so full of memories, as well as her rage at the injustices life has piled upon her. Townsend has a powerhouse of a voice that one moment was giggly and light and the next exploding in anger. It was an outstanding, richly detailed performance of a complex character who could easily have been perceived as little more than a caricature. "
Seen and Heard International
"The writing suits Townsend, who possesses an expansive but hard-edged soprano and favors liberal amounts of vibrato. As Brenda, her body language and manner suggest restraint and the creeping infirmities of age, even as she unleashes impressive vocal power."
Curtis Opera Theatre
Curtis Opera Theatre
Curtis Opera Theatre
Donna Anna (Don Giovanni)
"Thursday night’s opening featured baritone Dennis Chmelensky in the title role and soprano Tiffany Townsend as Donna Anna, and for their carrying power as well as subtle sensitivity to sound, these two singers seem primed for busy careers."
The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Tiffany Townsend (Anna) has an impressively large-format soprano and a grand sense of sweep "
Parterre Box
"Soprano Tiffany Townsend deploys laser-focused high notes as Donna Anna."
Donna Elvira
Don Giovanni
LA Opera
"Our debutante was Tiffany Townsend who was stepping in, for the second time, for an indisposed Isabel Leonard as Donna Elvira. Truth be told, Elvira is my favorite character in almost all of opera and considering the circumstances, I think Ms. Townsend did justice to the role and the very complicated staging. I would call her voice a medium-weight spinto soprano (to be) with very solid technique with surprisingly clean separation on her fioratura. By the time we got to “Mi tradì” she was obviously enjoying the challenges before her and the audience showed their appreciation."
Parterre Box
Wolf Trap Opera
"Notable performances included [...] Donna Elvira’s (Tiffany Townsend, Soprano) thrilling “Mi tradi quell’alma ingrata” (“That ungrateful soul betrayed me”)".
MD Theatre Guide
Scott Suchman / Wolf Trap Opera