Contessa di Folleville in “Il Viaggio a Reims” (Rossini)
“Jane Burnell, as Contessa di Folleville, has a radiant coloratura soprano and plays out the exaltation of the French aristocracy with great comedy.” - Online Musik Magazin
“British‑Irish soprano Jane Burnell stood out as Countess Folleville, due to her beautiful voice and magnetic stage presence.” - La Scena Musicale
“Soprano Jane Burnell produced a confident, clearly defined reading of the Contessa di Folleville, in which she successfully captured the comic absurdity of her character[…]which drew plenty of laughter from the audience. It was also a role that allowed her to show off the versatility, tonal clarity and beauty of her voice as she energetically and enthusiastically grappled with her character’s petty concerns, weaving bright, delicately fashioned lines that included short, sparkling passages of coloratura.” - Operawire
“British‑Irish soprano Jane Burnell was an amazing Madame Folleville, the aptly‑named fashion‑crazed Parisian. In addition to her beautiful timbre and ease with her upper register, Burnell displayed a magnetic stage presence.” - concerto.net
After Jane Burnell’s delightful characterisation of Molly Allgood in ‘Lady Gregory in America’ last year, I was looking forward to her Contessa. I was not disappointed. Last year, I wrote: “Jane Burnell’s sweet, clear, unforced soprano voice (in what was a first hearing for me) endows Molly with a radiant benevolence that turns Kerrigan from boy to man. There is something about Jane Burnell’s stage presence that makes the world seem a better place”. Well, that still holds. When the Contessa’s favourite hat is the only thing from her missing wardrobe that is salvaged, her joy is radiant. Jane made sure we all felt it too. - Edinburgh Music Review
Tytania in “A Midsummer Nights Dream” (Britten)
“Jane Burnell was a radiant and regal Queen Tytania.” - La Scena Musicale
“The role of Tytania was sung by Jane Burnell with exquisite panache. Not only was her voice ideally suited for the role, but her demeanour was truly regal.” - ConcertoNet.com
Mademoiselle Silberklang in “The Impresario” (Mozart)
“As Mademoiselle Silberklang, [Jane Burnell] showed off her skill in creating a comedic character that often had the audience laughing along. Her singing oozed energy and positivity, which she harnessed to create a beautiful, lively yet sensitive vocal interpretation, underpinned by her attractive tone and lyrically engaging phrasing.”
Operawire
“...Jane Burnell’s Silberklang, providing contrast with her more delicate and sweetly sustained, though nearly as florid music.”
Classical Source
..”Jane Burnell (who is the vocal star of the show, ending the first half with a beautiful "Deh vieni non tardar" from The Marriage of Figaro)”
Theatre Reviews North
“...Burnell brings plenty of sweetness and character to Susanna’s “Deh vieni, non tardar”
The Stage
Molly Allgood in “Lady Gregory in america” (Alberto Caruso)
“…a standout performance from soprano Jane Burnell as the spirited actor Molly Allgood”
The Guardian
“Jane Burnell’s sweet, clear, unforced soprano voice […] endows Molly with a radiant benevolence that turns Kerrigan from boy to man. There is something about Jane Burnell’s stage presence that makes the world seem a better place.”
Edinburgh Music Review
“…with strong individual performances, especially from Jane Burnell as the actress Molly Allgood.”
The Times
“Jane Burnell plays the beautiful Molly Allgood with a lovely soprano voice in an absolutely seductive way...”
Online Musik Magazine
Gasparina in “La Canterina” (Haydn)
“…soprano Jane Burnell, who delivers a star turn in the role of Gasparina, replete with sparky, heartless brilliance,”
The Stage
“Jane Burnell’s performance as Gasparina is as sparkling as her diamond necklace glinting in Rachel E Cleary’s stage lighting. She flounces and flirts and attitudinises, faints on cue quite convincingly, and handles the frequent vocal changes from aside to high drama to conversation to heart-rending pleading with consummate ease.”
The Opera Critic
“Jane Burnell is the singer, Gasparina…and shows she’s got a comedic gift as well as a lovely voice.”
Theatre Reviews North
“Jane Burnell, soprano, was brilliant as the scheming Gasparina, playing off her two other would be lovers.”
National World
“Jane Burnell is a feisty Gasparina, milking her parody tragic aria as she wheedles Don Pelagio into letting her stay.”
Classical Music Daily
Giovanna in “Ernani” (Verdi)
“…with choristers Jane Burnell […] also impressing in smaller solo roles.”
The Guardian
“…and the three minor roles (Jane Burnell as Giovanna)…are taken by highly gifted younger singers.”
Theatre Reviews North