Soprano | Inspirational Speaker

excerpts

L'AMORE DEI TRE RE - Sarasota Opera

Soprano Carol Ann Manzi sizzles in her role....rich vocal lines have a smoldering sensuality....strong voice and dramatic talent......

Sarasota Herald Tribune

....sung with great sensitivity, believably real...

Pelican Press

“....smoothed into a beautifully crafted portrait of a confused young woman with more passion than good sense - and a voice that was riveting in its beauty and fervor....”

Long Boat Observer

“......most believable - thrilling vocal intensity of (her )scenes left one breathless.......vocal lines outstanding, in total control......”

Venice Sun

“...beautifully performed with compelling and extraordinary voices of the four central characters......loaded with high drama and talent that rivals any major company worldwide......”

The Watermark


La Rondine – Sarasota Opera

"The beautiful melodies and especially the gorgeous vocal quality of Carol Ann Manzi as Magda is reason enough to see and hear this opera. Her singing in the first act of the aria (Chi il bel sogno), and throughout the entire opera is a dream of exquisite pianissimi and the full round tones of a lyric soprano voice in full bloom. Her persona has an innocent vulnerability, which makes her lovable either as the mistress or the shy working girl."

Florence Fischer, Sarasota Herald Tribune

"Manzi, a lyric soprano with warm mellow overtones, is a lovely Magda. Her beautifully controlled pianissimi were a joy to listen to. She was convincing both as the sophisticated mistress and the simple working girl."

Irene Herman, The East County Observer

"The leading role requires an outstanding voice, and that was readily taken care of by Carol Ann Manzi."

Herman Baar, The Longboat Observer

"As Magda, Carol Ann Manzi contributed warmly shaded vocalism with pianissimo notes that floated nicely and a convincing portrayal."

Tim Smith, Opera


La Bohème – Sarasota Opera

"It’s hard to imagine a better performance than Carol Ann Manzi’s emotional range in the role of the ill-fated flower girl, from a vibrant Mi chiamano Mimì in Act I to the final death scene."

Joan Griffith, Black tie Magazine,(Sarasota, FL)

"Carol Ann Manzi’s Mimi brought the house down. Sarasota patrons will be wise to save their programme book: many now obscure names in it are bound to become more widely known." William Weaver, Financial Times

"...several singers must really be singled out by name because they - I’m sure, will soon be adorning major opera or concert stages. The wonderfully tender and touching La Bohème shimmered particularly in the delicate Mimì of Carol Ann Manzi." Byron Belt, Newhouse News Service

"Carol Ann Manzi revealed a fresh side to Mimì ...she wrapped herself in gentle movements to evoke the audiences’ willing sympathy."

Longboat Observer

"Manzi achieved her best singing and acting in the third and fourth acts with her aria, Donde lieta, and her death scene. Here, beginning with Sono andati, her ringing high B-flat had the needed edge and volume to convey

Mimì’s despair."

Sarasota Herald Tribune

"Carol Ann Manzi’s Mimì, tenderly sung..."

Tampa Tribune

"Soprano Carol Ann Manzi revealed impressive vocal and dramatic talent as Mimì".

F. Warren O’Reilly, American Record Guide

Verdi Concert – Sarasota Opera

"The first half, music by Verdi’s friends, was distinguished by the superior vocalism and musicianship of Carol Ann Manzi….soprano Manzi brought a rather unruly audience to appreciative silence with the beautiful phrasing and floating pianissimi she applied to pieces (by Toscanini)….Manzi returned with ravishing interpretations of six German songs by Ferdinand Hiller….neither (the) compositional sophistication nor technical difficulty was apparent in Manzi’s effortless performance."

Richard Storm, Sarasota Herald Tribune


GUGLIELMO RATCLIFF by Mascagni at Alice Tully Hall with Teatr Grattacielo

"......sympathetically sung...."

Das Opernglas

"showed verismo commitment in her fervent Maria"
Opera News

" an exemplary Maria..........."
America Oggi

".....strong soloist......"
New York Times

" sang stirringly and cleanly of her passion and joined (Bartolini) in an intense climactic duet."

TheatreScene.net


"...limpid-toned, appealing and vulnerable."

The Westsider

" .....clearly well versed in verismo and with an aptly italianate timbre....."

GayCityNews.com

"the final duet between Maria and Ratcliff was a delight, extremely passionate and exciting."

Mascagni-interest mailing list

Carol Ann Manzi, who I had seem recently with the great Sarasota Opera Company, was excellent...." the voice is beautiful, large and she floated some lovely piani."

OperaLe


I Pagliacci – Opera Theater of Connecticut

"In the role of Nedda, Carol Ann Manzi excels. Combining a beautiful soprano with strong acting ability, (Ms. Manzi) holds the stage throughout the opera."

Angela Lehman, Main Street Arts

"I Pagliacci was especially well done, with soprano Carol Ann Manzi as a world-class Nedda. Hers was an exciting performance, with fire, flair and feminine pulchritude in abundance."

Robert Cumming, The Trumpeter

"As Nedda sings the "Ballatella", her voice and actions betray a sensuousness as she awaits her lover. (Manzi) suggested these emotions and sang with clarity and nice phrasing. Her duet with Oziel Garza-Onelas was rich with nuance."

J.V.W.B., The Herald

Verdi Requiem – Hartford Chorale

"Manzi was brilliant. All through the piece she did some amazingly subtle and imaginative things, especially with her high notes. No lack of operatic fire here - her work on the final Libera Me was almost beyond praise...she put a thrilling personal stamp on this difficult, register-hopping music."

Steve Metcalf, The Hartford Courant

"Carol Ann Manzi... progressed to a most enthralling performance, her pianissimo passages possessing a crystalline quality which projected effortlessly over chorus and orchestra." Kenneth Irons, Hartford Advocate

La Boheme – Connecticut Opera

"Carol Ann Manzi elected to play Musetta with, how shall we say, no restraints. This approach can be dangerous as well as annoying, but she is a natural commedienne and the result was brilliant. Her famous waltz was a triumph...."

Steve Metcalf, Hartford Courant


"Carol Ann Manzi as Musetta, whose bawdy and boisterous theatricality dominated...her waltz song, was stupendously vain and sensuous."

Carol Lechner, Hartford Advocate

La Bohème - Greensboro Opera

“.....sang Mimi with strong feeling and a voice that could soar above the orchestra but also could sustain a pianissimo that was utterly gorgeous. 1st and 3rd act arias were beautiful....”

The News and Record

La Traviata - Eugene Opera

Verdi's Opera depends on the versatility of the soprano. Manzi has a warm, supple voice that allows her to cover all the styles of this most difficult of roles. She was especially effective in those heart rending passages that call for soft, legato singing, to which she added a wealth of acting ability.

The Register Guard

La Traviata - Opera Santa Barbara

“.....expert singing..... singing both nuanced and expressive and her soft dynamic range was exquisite. Her acting was equally persuasive, completely realistic.....”


L’Arlesiana – Sarasota Opera

"Carol Ann Manzi, a lovely Mimi last season, sang like an angel, lighting up the stage on her entrance. Her pianissimi were ravishing and her second act aria was breathtaking."

The Venice Gondolier

"Soprano, Carol Ann Manzi as Vivetta was the very essence of saintly patience…..her pretty voice was equal to both the lyrical and dramatic demands of the role."

The Sarasota Herald Tribune

"….beautiful voice and stunning pianissimi."

Opera-L