Soloist in Richard Tucker Gala

Carnegie Hall

“In “O Don Fatale,” Barton sang with that same expressive power that really captivated the audience and which showed her potency throughout her voice. Her low notes were dynamite throughout the aria, providing a rawness and grit that really played up the intensity of the passage. The high notes were quite potent, the mezzo managing to imbue them with a similar edge that expressed Eboli’s torment and rage wrapped into one. It was a true emotional coup.”
–David Salazar, OperaWire

“Like several others on the evening’s roster Barton had just performed at the Met but several recent marathon Orfeos didn’t prevent her from offering two intriguing aspects of Princess Eboli: first, a suave Veil Song in which she inventively negotiated its cruelly challenging melismas with some degree of success. It was followed by a blistering “O don fatale” in which her epic searing high C-flat singed my ears. Greeted by the loudest roars of the night, it proudly took its place with other compelling “fatal beauties” I’ve heard at past Tucker galas…”
–Christopher Corwin, Parterre Box

“Barton also brought down the house singing Eboli’s “Veil Song” and “O Don Fatale” at the Tucker Gala while modeling two eye-catching evening gowns… The audience greeted Barton with whoops and cheers like she was both a familiar old friend and an exciting superstar.”
–Eli Jacobson, Gay City News

“Barton was on fire in her two excerpts as Princess Eboli from Verdi's Don Carlo: first the enchanting "Song of the Veil," but most furiously in a death-defying take on "O don fatale." She tore the place up and thoroughly enjoyed doing it, judging by the glint in her eye—as did the audience.”
–Richard Sasanow, Broadway World

“The female line-up never faltered. Jamie Barton sang Eboli’s two arias from Don Carlos, amply demonstrating a breadth of repertoire that has seen her win recent plaudits in Norma, Orfeo and The Ring. Her rich, burgundy tone was perfect for Verdi’s impassioned princess. She skillfully narrated the tale of infidelity contained in the sly verses of the Song of the Veil while displaying a delicious, teasing way with the arabesque-inflected cadenzas. Returning for O Don fatale in her BBC Proms bi-sexual pride dress was an unexpected choice, but the aria was thrilling. She really tore into the opening, and…she was riveting as she belted out the challenging top notes that can sometimes prove a lower-voiced mezzo’s bête noire.”
–Clive Paget, Limelight Magazine