Wagner: “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” at San Francisco Opera

Soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen was radiant in her SFO debut as Eva, the burgher’s daughter who falls in love with Walther, but also has a soft spot for the kindhearted Sachs. Willis-Sorensen’s precise, ample voice suited the role quite well, including in her key aria “O Sachs mein Freund.

James Ambroff-Tahan, SF Examiner

“Matching him phrase for silvery phrase was soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen, who made a tremendous company debut as Eva, the daughter of Nuremberg’s goldsmith and the prize for which Walther is in contention. In a good performance, one can almost forget that Wagner has made the leading soprano role essentially a golden trophy cup with vocal cords; Willis-Sorensen’s singing, both robust and fine-grained, did the trick.”
Joshua Kosman, SF Gate

“Several artists make their S.F. Opera debuts in this cast. Chief among them is soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen, whose generous, vibrant singing yielded an appealing Eva”
Georgia Rowe, Mercury News

“In a house-role debut as Eva, Rachel Willis-Sørenson’s playful spirit and radiant lyric soprano cast a benediction on the Act Three quintet.”
Allan Ulrich, The Financial Times