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Press
quotes CONCERTS « beautiful, amber
voice » "She has a commanding
vocal presence and sings with passion and insight." "Contralto Marie-Nicole
Lemieux was definitely the evening's star" "Lemieux sang the
lieder and the musical hysterics with equal artistry and passion." "Lemieux is an absolute
delight." "The performance of
the young Canadian was breathtaking for the incomparable
beauty of her voice, her musicality, her splendour, the transcendant
freedom of her dramatic, indeed comic, approach to the role of
Orlando." "Such voices are rare." " her interpretation
of Wagner's setting of Fünf Gedichte eine Fraustimme"
by Mathilde Wesendock was expansive and emotional haunting,
anguished tender, heroic, even florid. " "Marie-Nicole Lemieux
brought the right combination of drama and reticence to the music,
and her smooth, expressive voice was the perfect instrument for
these somewhat neglected songs." "Lemieux, () managed
with her art to turn an excellent concert into a memorable one.
() she adds the true mark of a musical star the ability
to communicate meaning and sense through her music." "Lemieux, who has
a richly hued sonority, has quickly become one of the most sought
after voices." "With a flowing voice
and a heart as big as lac St-Jean, Marie-Nicole Lemieux became
an instant icon (,,,) by winning the 2000 Queen Elisabeth Competition
in Brussels" "Not so long ago,
contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux made a sensation in the Montreal
musical milieu when she won the Joseph-Rouleau 2000 Award (at
the Jeunesses Musicales of Canada Music Competition). She just
won the First Prize of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth
International Music Competition in Brussels, where she also
won the Special Lied Award. () Marie-Nicole Lemieux
now joins the ranks of famous artists who have won this prize
in the past such as violinists Leonid Kogan, Jaime Laredo, pianists
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Leon Fleisher or Karl Engel." RECORDINGS Brahms, ANALEKTA " Preserving this
almost candid simplicity, contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux offers
her moving voice to these complaints of regrets and unrequited
love." « Not only she possess
a voice of remarkable beauty, she produces it with remarkable
smoothness, ease and musicality. » "Technically, control
and voice projection are perfect, the sound is round and lively,
the vocal line wonderfully well-sustained." « an artist of integrity.
» "Marie-Nicole is an
exceptional singer" "Lemieux is a born
Brahms singer." Vivaldi : Orlando Furioso, NAÏVE « This Vivaldi CD
by Naïve witnesses the 1st French recording of Marie-Nicole
Lemieux, a brilliant performance.() This Orlando obviously appears
to be one of the rare major recordings of the year in the field
of opera. » Belli Voci, ANALEKTA « gorgeously rich
and transparent voice » Vivaldi-Scarlatti, ANALEKTA "She [Lemieux] sings
this work by Vivaldi as well as Domenico Scarlatti's Salve
Regina with tremendous means allowing her to nuance as nobody
else does in a velvety voice which never tarnishes." "The transparent beauty
of Marie-Nicole Lemieux's voice is hard to forget." "I express a desire
for more recordings from this sensational young singer." "This is singing of
the highest professional and artistic standard" "Lemieux's contribution
are highlights" Haendel, ANALEKTA "Marie-Nicole Lemieux
a contralto, with a pure counter-tenorish voice sings
with spot-on intonation and a vocal agility that makes it all
sound easy. Lemieux's embellishments are tasteful, her delivery
subtly expressive and yet she can give goosebumps with the word
"crudele" " "You only have to
wait a few seconds at the start of this Handel program to know
that Marie-Nicole Lemieux is a major talent, an artist of the
first rank, a commanding presence and a thrilling interpreter
of this repertoire." "Lemieux is another
in an impressive list of world-class Canadian singers." "Her ease of delivery,
(...) rich, luscious timbre and seeming joy in all that
she sings makes this recital a pure delight and rare artistic
achievement." "you can't help but
be amazed when you hear the natural, unbridled sensuousness conveyed
in her singing of the slower arias and the sheer crackling fire
that bursts forth in the more emphatic, agitated sections." "The star of this
excellent recital is contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux" |