Press Comments
SOPRANO GIVES GOUNOD A LITTLE EXTRA STAR QUALITY
"But what lifted the evening to another plane and earns it a fourth star was the remarkable performance by South African soprano Sally Silver in the title role.....With effortlessly pure tuning, bright and fluently produced tone, a full and easy top register, warmly musical phrasing and clean enunciation of the text, she offered first-class singing by any standards....she is distinctly superior in vocal artistry...I'd be putting Sally Silver on my A-list " The Telegraph
BBC MUSIC REVIEW OF LURLINE CD
"Sally Silver is a seductive siren!"
LURLINE CD REVIEW BY MUSIC WEB INTERNATIONAL
"Sally Silver in the title role has a bright lyrical voice, sailing effortlessly up in the highest reaches of the soprano register. She negotiates the coloratura passages with supreme ease. Hers is a most sensitive reading of a role that is both other-worldly and deeply human."
SCOTTISH OPERA : 'I PURITANI' IN THE ROLE OF ELVIRA
MARCH 2009
"Yesterday afternoon's thrilling performance by Scottish Opera of Bellini's opera I Puritani, with extraordinary singing by soprano Sally Silver in the role of Elvira, was more than a musical triumph for the company: it was a vital moment for Scottish Opera."
Michael Tumelty, The Herald, Glasgow, Scotland (March 2009)
"Nevertheless, it was soprano Sally Silver, returning to Scottish Opera following her acclaimed performance in Lucia di Lammermoor, who stole the show with an effortless portrayal of the love-struck Elvira."
Carla Whalen, The Scotsman, GlasgowScotland, (March 2009)
"Sally Silver returned after her successful outing in Lucia di Lammermoor. She has the pinpoint accuracy required for successful bel canto singing........... Her mad scenes were compelling and moving, especially the one at the end of the first act. In Act II Qui la voce was languid and poignant while Vien diletto was exciting and sharp. She kept plenty in reserve for the final scene, though, and those climactic top notes were thoroughly secure."
Simon Thompson, Musicweb International, (March 2009)
NATIONALE REISOPERA : 'LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN' IN THE THREE ROLES OF OLYMPIA / ANTONIA & GUILIETTA
NOVEMBER 2008
"The roles of Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta are performed fantastically by Sally Silver, an archetypal soprano whose voice radiantly soars above everything else."
Kasper Jansen, NRC , Handelsblad (November 2008)
"These beauties were performed by South-African soprano Sally Silver who defined the most important aspects of these characters mechanism, dramatism and eroticism minutely and accentuated them accordingly."
Frits van der Waa, de Volkskrant (November 2008)
"A magisterial Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta was sung by Sally Silver. Silver has a beautiful voice that is totally suited for the lyric-romantic strength that Offenbach requires of these roles."
Oswin Schneeweisz, Algemeen Dagblad (November 2008)
CHELSEA OPERA GROUP : 'MARIA STUARDA' IN THE ROLE OF ELISABETTA
NOVEMBER 2008
"As Elisabetta was South African soprano Sally Silver, making her COG debut, and a very successful one. She too experienced no difficulties. Her voice has the focus to convey Elisabetta's firm resolve. History supports Elizabeth, but Donizetti has skewed the story in Mary Stuart's favour, and his Queen of England has few pleasant features. Silver's accomplished technique and a voice in pristine condition were on a par with Cullagh's, the two sopranos carrying the evening before them."
Classicalmusicsource.com, John T. Hughes (November 2008)
"One of its biggest drawbacks is the way Elisabetta (Queen Elizabeth the First) evaporates after Act 1. She opens Act 2 with a strong trio and then disappears. This means that singers must make a lasting impression in Act 1 and some do this with exaggeration. Not Sally Silver, who gave a beautifully sung account of the role. Silver's repertoire is mainly in the coloratura area; she has sung Lucia for Scottish Opera. But her voice has a distinctly spinto cast, which is ideal for the role. Her Elisabetta was spirited, sexy and dramatic in the famous meeting between the queens which closes Act 1."
Mvdaily.com, Robert Hugill (November 2008)
"At the heart of the work stand the two sparring Queens, Elisabetta and Maria. Majella Cullagh, as the latter, acted the part convincingly and tackled the athletic vocal lines with vigour, perhaps lacking some frailty in the opera's final moments but never losing her bright, crisp vocal quality. Sally Silver, as Elisabetta was even better......... her supreme voice was never in question: her opening number Ah! Quando all'ara scorgemi drew murmurs of approval from around the hall."
Musicomh.com, Dave Paxton (November 2008)
NATIONALE REISOPERA : 'LA TRAVIATA' IN THE ROLE OF VIOLETTA
JULY 2008
"Sally Silver is simply the best Violetta I have ever heard in any Theatre! She thew off the brittle gaiety and brilliant writing of the first act with vigour and not a strained phrase. In the other acts, she could fine her voice down to a fine whisper which still projected throughout a dry auditorium, The Lucent Danzteater. She is an unusually honest interpreter of this role - all of Verdi's indications were treated with respect, the outbursts having impressive strength but never blasting, the delicate moments haunting without resorting to chest register effects or sobbing."
Michael Davidson, OPERA magazine, UK (July 2008) Page 807
OPÉRA-THÉÂTRE DE METZ : 'RIGOLETTO' IN THE ROLE OF GILDA
JUNE 2008
"But the Palme goes without doubt to the Gilda of Sally Silver! Our Soprano managed once again to thrill her public thanks to the superb musicality of her arias, the beauty of her tone and purity of her high notes."
Georges Masson, Le Républicain Lorrain (8 June 2008)
NATIONALE REISOPERA : 'LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN' IN THE THREE ROLES OF OLYMPIA / ANTONIA & GUILIETTA
APRIL 2008
"Sally Silver portrayed all of the three (anti-)heroines with dazzling virtuosity and compelling acting.As Olympia she was not only chilling, but very funny. As Antonia she became a convincing invalid, the duet with her mother quite hair raisng. Her Giulietta oozed decadence and anxiety."
Michael Davidson, OPERA magazine, UK (April 2008)
"The highlight of an enjoyable performance was the vocal finesse and elegant interpretation of the soprano Sally Silver in the title role."
Kees Arntzen, TROUW (25 March 2008)
"Olympia , Antonia and Giulietta were sung - as they should be - by one soprano: the outstanding Sally Silver. "
Peter van de Lindt, Trouw, Newspaper, The Netherlands
NASIONALE RESIOPERA : 'LA TRAVIATA' IN THE ROLE OF VIOLETTA
APRIL 2008
Jurjen Vis, Financieele Dagblad, Netherlands (12 April 2008)
"...an emotionally provoking, subtle and loving portrayal of Violetta......also the direct and honest singing of Silver and Beduz was unpretentious."
Kaspar Jansen, NRC-Handelsblad (27 March 2008)
"The performance of La Traviata by the Nationale Reisopera is MADE by Sally Silver!"
The South African Soprano Sally Silver sings Violetta with verve. Silver has a natural, beautiful tone and a pleasing vibrato. Her refined voice has many layers and she spreads her polish with ease. Silver's strongest trump card is her emotional ability to communicate."
