Nino Machaidze as Juliette and Vittorio Grigolo as Romeo. (Photo: Robert Millard)
“Los Angeles Opera has done it again…a brand new dazzling dream couple for opera…[Vittorio Grigolo] was commanding vocally and theatrically…there is plenty of opportunity for passion, and Grigolo had a ready supply. He jumped up balconies, leaped around the stage and poured his heart out…[Nino Machaidze] was smoldering Sunday, and Grigolo never seemed to get enough of that either… She made her “Waltz Song,” the opera’s most famous number, sparkle. But a seductively dark poignancy suited her best.” Mark Swed, LA Times
“Vittorio Grigolo in his L.A. Opera debut is delivering an extravagant and yet utterly heartfelt Romeo that recalls the young John Barrymore…Machaidze’s steely soprano weaves nicely with Grigolo’s fine-grained tenor…she matches his emotionalism note for note.”
Robert Hofler, Variety
“Any performance of the opera rises or falls primarily on the qualities of the two lead singers. Both here are knockouts.”
Lyle Zimskind, LAist[Machaidze and Grigolo] “deliver two very exciting performances that alongside Judge’s tight, visually interesting production ensure that no one in the audience will be going home disappointed…an opportunity to see these two stars working together on a local stage should not be passed by.”
Brian Holt, Out West Arts
“It is perhaps several degrees more sensational than the first time…Vittorio Grigolo and Nino Machaidze, both of them – to put it mildly – [were] sensational in their parts. Machaidze sings gorgeously and makes a thoroughly believable heroine (and, yes, we all know Shakespeare’s Juliet was really 13 or something), while Grigolo seems born to play Roméo.” David Gregson, Opera West
“[Nino Machaidze's] talent is unsurpassed: charisma, beauty, comic ability, acting, gorgeous and memorable strong voice. She is the perfect Juliette…Vittorio Grigolo…has the vocal chops to keep up with Nino, as well as the looks and bravado on stage. This coupling is another compelling reason not to miss this production.” Georja Urmano & Gerald Everett Jones, LA Splash
“Vittorio Grigolo and Nino Machaidze [are] young novas who can galvanize stage action, sing to the heavens and look unspeakably gorgeous while they’re at it. Needless to say, these two wowed the opening night audience…For her part, the Georgian soprano’s cheek would shame the stars shining in the sky. Whether leaning down, yearningly, from her balcony or flying around the courtyard to rendez-vous with Romeo, this Juliette defined the smitten girl who would rather die than live without her lover…[Grigolo] is the real lyric-tenor thing, the possessor of a bright, full voice with rounded tone that can sound quite good in the French repertory.”
Donna Perlmutter, blogdowntown