“Up and coming American soprano Jennifer Rowley has boldly claimed for herself a new, career-changing role. Puccini’s Tosca is a monumental climb for a soprano, a career-defining mountain if, perhaps, not the toughest vocal peak. The opera greats, including Callas, have used the role to cement a career. Rowley, taking on the role at the Metropolitan Opera House for a night between Met favorites Sonya Yoncheva and opera superstar Anna Netrebko, becomes not a soprano to watch, but a soprano to see…
The role of Tosca is a career maker. It is a stepping stone. It is a role that requires, for modern sensibilities, a youthful performer, whose innocence can still be spoiled and whose raw emotions can believably bubble over like a teenager. And it requires a big soprano voice. Jennifer Rowley is a singer ready to tackle the role. She exhilarated as a precocious young diva experiencing intense love, betrayal, and terrifying choices. And thankfully, Rowley has the role in her voice – and then some. Her magnificent instrument has clamorous outer reaches. But her voice’s extreme emotive possibilities will temper with experience. I, for one, am excited to see Rowley develop as an artist. She is an artist of abundant vocal talent, intelligent technique, and something rare in opera – fearless theatricality.”
– Brian Taylor, ZealNYC (January 15, 2018)
“What a breath of fresh air just one change can make to an entire production. In the role of Tosca, Jennifer Rowley exuded allure from the start, purring out the third “Mario!” before her entrance in a way that spoke volumes of her relationship with Cavaradossi. Rowley molded her fiery passion to suit Tosca’s changing mood, using it at one moment to warm and in the next to burn … David McVicar’s ambitious production of “Tosca” managed to enamor the audience of the January 12 performance not only through its captivating set, but the magnetism of its cast, especially Jennifer Rowley playing Floria Tosca in one of the opera world’s most prominent stages. Audiences will have much to look forward to when she tackles the role of Leonora in “Il Trovatore” later this month.”
– Logan Martell, Operawire (January 13, 2018)