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“The loveliest performance I have heard from her at the Met” (The Observer), “Her velvety soprano was in excellent form” (New York Classical Review), “this consummate actress came close to moving the audience to tears” (Bachtrack) – Sonya Yoncheva received critical praise for her performances in the title role of Iolanta at the Metropolitan Opera.

“As the entrapped Iolanta, Sonya Yoncheva gave about the loveliest performance I have heard from her at the Met, the relatively low music lying in the warmest and most colorful part of her lyric soprano. Particularly moving was her body language, never self-pitying but always expectant and hopeful. (The sweetness of that attitude created the most poignant contrast with the dashed hopes of everyone later in the show.)”
James Jorden, Observer

“Sonya Yoncheva crafted a moving portrayal…; she is an actress of such sensitivity that she was able to invest her character with more emotion than she seems to have on the page. It was heartbreaking to see how keenly she yearned for the affection of Vaudémont after having been isolated for her entire life. Her velvety soprano was in excellent form in Friday’s performance, blooming as she climbed into her upper range.”
Eric C. Simpson, New York Classical Review

“Sonya Yoncheva continues with another success as Iolanta. Looking lovely, curious, helpless and frightened by turns, this consummate actress came close to moving the audience to tears. The role lies comfortably, rarely flying too high, and Ms Yoncheva was in utter control throughout.”
Robert Levine, Bachtrack

“Soprano Sonya Yoncheva’s evolution from a sheltered, bewildered girl into a woman emboldened by love was vocally and visually magical. The scene in which she tries to fulfill Vaudémont’s request to give him a red rose, but with ever increasing frustration only hands him white ones, was touching.”
Rick Perdian, Seen and heard international

“Sonya Yoncheva sings Iolanta with a lovely flowing line… .”
John Yohalem, GBOpera