Press

“The cast assembled by the Opernhaus is hardly surpassable today, all the more since the three principal singers are in splendid vocal form. In the role of Tosca, Sonya Yoncheva plays the diva to her fingertips, and an extremely jealous one at that, with exaggerated gestures: she poses for paparazzi, signs autographs, and wears large dark glasses; in Act II, she theatrically undresses in front of Scarpia. The soprano is fully committed to her role; the voice is powerful and well projected, even throughout the range, the timbre captivating and rich in color, with radiant high notes and vehement accents (…) Vissi d’arte is a magnificent moment of beautiful singing (…)”
Claudio Poloni, ConcertoNet.com

“Sonya Yoncheva as Tosca is magnificent. She makes her first entrance in the church/theater with confidence and a surge of jealous intensity; her voice is strong and clear, beautiful and carrying effortlessly. As the evening progresses, one hears from her increasingly delicate and soft tones, for despair often speaks quietly. For me, these are the truly great moments. Her aria Vissi d’arte was a triumph, her bearing and singing expressing profound misery, deep sadness, disappointment, and of course hatred toward her tormentor.
She rightly received mid-scene applause and cries of brava.
Sonya Yoncheva proves herself not only a great singer but equally a remarkable actress.”
Kathrin Beyer, Klassik Begeistert

“Sonya Yoncheva was the diva of the evening. As Floria Tosca, she illuminated every facet of her great role, and the various emotional nuances of the drama were conveyed with full commitment, making her performance both a vocal and dramatic highlight. Without ever forcing, her voice shone and allowed the audience to share in all her emotions.”
Marco Stücklin, Das Opernmagazin

“Sonya Yoncheva portrayed the passionate Floria Tosca already in 2021 in the city on the Limmat. A woman who, out of love and self-preservation, stabs her adversary and, after the execution of her beloved, chooses death herself. Her nuanced acting is imbued with the complex emotions of the title character, and her voluminous, supple soprano with its dramatic force seems tailor-made for the Italian repertoire. Yoncheva’s dark, earthy timbre has become increasingly prominent, especially in the middle and lower registers.
In the fierce confrontation with the power-hungry Scarpia in the second act, even the last cough in the audience falls silent in the face of the gripping performance and vocal presence of the protagonists. Yoncheva’s interpretation of Vissi d’arte makes one forget the previous outburst of fury; here, with lyrical elegance, she achieves genuine emotional depth. Her phrasing is refined, and her legato flawless. The ensuing applause is correspondingly stormy and sustained.”
Peter Wäch, O-Ton

“Sonya Yoncheva is an experienced Floria Tosca, fully the diva who knows what matters. Her voice responds flawlessly. She shapes dreamlike phrases and nuances, with the end of the first act especially striking as she ascends to the altar like a ruler of the world. The experience of her career also allows her to show consideration for her partner in decisive moments.”
Jan Krobot, Online Merker

[Photo: T+T Fotografie / Toni Suter + Tanja Dorendorf]