La forza del destino, Liège, September 2021

 

"The leading roles in “La Forza del destino” are well cast, as usual in Liège. The star of the evening was clearly the soprano María José Siri as Donna Leonora - she impressed not only with an enormous range of musical dynamics and her touching emotionality, but also with her acting skills."
Patrick Lemmens, BRF  

"... first class singers ....  
... a music feast ....  
Maria José Siri as Leonora sings a really beautiful "Pace, pace mio Dio". It is technically perfect how she lets the notes fade in and out."  
Deutschlandradio  

"With Marcelo Alvarez as Don Alvaro and Maria José Siri as Donna Leonora, there are personalities on stage who possess the necessary vocal stamina, but who also do the delicate passages justice."  
Aachener Zeitung  

"Maria José Siri is a soprano who can wonderfully fill the largest spaces with sound. She shows that in an impressive way in Liège."
GrenzEcho  

“Maria José Siri-Leonora succeeds in the paradox of delighting the Liège audience in the exposition of her sad destiny, inhabiting and giving nuances to the expressions of her beautiful character.”  
Crescendo Magazine  

“Maria José Siri as Leonora di Vargas was truly excellent. The Uruguayan soprano thrilled from her first aria “Me pellegrina ed orfana” at the beginning of the first act, with an already warmed up voice and a very heartfelt interpretation, she was tormented, desperate, and the audience was with her, the first of a series of spontaneous ovations. Particularly touching were her “La vergine degli angeli” and “Pace, pace mio Dio”, with splendidly long-held pianissimos.” 
Il Giornale della Musica

 “Fortunately, the singers, as if left at times to their own devices, save the day. Maria José Siri as Leonora, half-libertarian (maybe half rebellious would be better?) half-contrite, literally brings the house down with her commitment. (…) the soprano accustomed to larger sets and larger halls captivates the audience with her power and  irresistible stage presence. Her performance culminates in the overwhelming plea "Pace!" Pace! Mio dio ”of the last act, a perfect synthesis of her psychological approach to the role and her undeniable and immense musical qualities.”  
ResMusica  

“…the soprano stands out for her vocal range and the sincerity of her commitment, especially in the last act, where she succeeds in an interior and then gripping “Pace, pace, mio Dio”.  
ConcertoNet  

But if we were to keep one, we would turn to María José Siri. (…) Sono giunta shows the power of the soprano's spinto, who deploys all her ardor in the last act, for a “Pace, pace mio Dio” whose last phrase she holds in a superbly spun breath.”  
Altamusica  

“The audience is amazed by the female protagonist, the soprano María José Siri thanks to her intense expressiveness and her ardent portrayal of the gentle Donna Leonora di Vargas. She achieved this with her warm timbre illuminated by her polished and well projected high notes and by her rich and balanced vibrato. While all of her interventions were convincing, her aria "Pace, pace, mio Dio!" remains as the most engraved in the hearts, as is often the case. During curtain calls, she couldn’t hide her enthusiasm for reliving the scene and rediscovering the warmth of the audience, an enthusiasm that is touching and shared by everyone”  
Ôlyrix  

“Maria José Siri (…) manages to lighten her ligne du chant and to offer nuances in her second act grand aria.”  
Forum Opéra

"The Uruguayan soprano Maria José Siri (...) plays Leonora – who flees with her beloved Alvaro because he accidentally killed her father – with great expression, excellent intelligibility and exciting high notes... ."  
Opera Nederland  

“…let us share here a consecration of Uruguayan soprano Maria José Siri who wonderfully interpreted the central role of the heroine Donna Lenora di Vargas in this spectacular and exciting Verdi opera.  
“A pure vocal feast, her large and sumptuous soprano was able to electrify the public in Liège, who gave the tragedienne enthusiastic cheers during the Sunday afternoon performance. We were able to admire without reserve Maria José Siri, a regular guest on the biggest stages on the planet, who so fully and without apparent effort assumed all the strengths of her interventions and produced high notes of superb stability. Her qualities as a totally committed artist gave a very beautiful relief to her character more and more persecuted by fate. Because we can say that the more her misfortune is affirmed, the more convincing she is. "The most desperate are the most beautiful songs, and I know some immortals who are pure tears ..." Her "Pace, pace mio Dio" was deeply moving …"  
Arts et Lettres