“Kristina Mkhitaryan as Micaëla was the highlight of the night! She was “saving grace” personified. Her voice was pure and rich at the same time. Her upper register soared into the Met hall and her dynamics made one sit at the edge of their seat waiting to hear what she would do next. Mkhitaryan’s acting came across as natural and her Micaëla in this distorted plot created clarity and a moral compass. Mkhitaryan represented humanity and all the qualities that make up the complexities of being human. Her initial entrance on stage is something I want to see again. She is immediately accosted by a patrol guard and instead of giving into fear, she resists and stands up straight in her knowing that the treatment she is receiving and will receive from entities such as this is wrong and illegal. Mkhitaryan stood tall in the face of her character’s severe circumstances and in every moment, she made her role about standing up for humanity. Yes, the plot describes her delivering messages from Don José’s mother to him and holding pure love for Don José from their childhood, but what Mkhitaryan does is different. She embodies the innocence that is being tormented and stripped of its rights in modern day. She puts the spotlight, in her own way, on what this production’s singular message is all about–empathy cultivates humanity, while apathy destroys all. Her pure heart held all of humanity in this production. She made it so much more.

“Kristina Mkhitaryan is stunning as Violetta, whether using her powerful but warm voice to convey the joy of the party-girl when we first meet her or the misery of losing her love and then her life. Her ability to convey such a wide range of emotions so convincingly, especially in the final scene, shows that her glorious voice is matched by outstanding acting ability.”

“Kristina Mkhitaryan was phenomenal in the title role. Her voice soared and swooped through melodies in a way that transported one almost to an out-of-body experience.”