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General | | Biography: | After her recent performance as Magda in THE CONSUL the Boston Herald [2005] said “
‘I cannot imagine that this performance could ever be surpassed. JOANNA PORACKOVA rose gloriously to the occasion of her climactic aria ‘To this we’ve come’. In short, she was a miracle.”
“In the central role of Magda Sorel, JOANNA PORACKOVA, singing with soaring majesty, tensile passion and earth-mother conviction, moved about like a caged tigress, all pent up and in the throes of paper chains“
Opera News [2005]
Ms. Porackova sang her first ‘Isolde’ in TRISTAN UND ISOLDE at the Grand Theatre in Tours, France during the spring of 2004. After a triumphant success as TURANDOT in Klagenfurt, Austria, fall 2003: “Her dramatic soprano and her stage presence covered the role (TURANDOT) entirely…. Bravo, bravo for this astounding singer” Die Woche Kultur
“As Senta, Joanna Porackova….transmitted the character’s obsessive passion with warmth” said The New York Times in the Würzburg 2002 production of DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER.
The New York Times also praised her for “singing with great fervor and skill” in her 2001 debut with the Washington Opera, Kennedy Center, as Magda Sorel in THE CONSUL under the direction of Gian Carlo Menotti.
After her performance of the title role in Rolf Lieberman’s world premiere of MEDEA, at the Stadttheater Bern, Switzerland, in June 2001, The Neue Züricher Zeitung complemented her for “mastering the enormous technical and musical work with wonderful modulations in the voice and a bravura intense dramatic performance”.
The Boston Globe described her NORMA, with the Boston Bel Canto Opera, as a “mythic soprano with heroic declamation, suave cantilena, delicate fioritura and a huge vocal and emotional range, a poet’s feeling for nuance and the staying power of a triathlete … sending the audience into frenzies with her melting cadenzas, impassioned recitatives and floating high notes”.
Opera News said her NORMA demonstrated ‘fine bel canto style, passion, color and phrasing”.
The American Record Guide January 1999 complimented “the absolutely phenomenal dramatic soprano” Joanna Porackova for her performance as Anaide to Jerome Hines’ Mose in Rossini’s MOSE IN EGITTO at Alice Tully Hall in New York’s Lincoln Center. She also won critical acclaim from the New York Times for the same role as “the most stageworthy in the cast and her soprano blossomed through the evening”
Ms. Porackova has been engaged in principal roles with the Washington Opera, Paris Opera, Hong Kong Opera, Mainfranken Theater Würzburg, Stadttheater Bern, Switzerland, Boston Lyric, Baltimore, Connecticut, Greater Miami, Seattle, Anchorage, Boston Bel Canto Operas, Boston Academy of Music, Opera Boston and the Concert Opera of Boston.
She has performed the title roles of NORMA, AIDA, MEDEA, TOSCA, LA WALLY, RUSALKA, FIDELIO, as well as Amelia in UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, Lady MacBeth in MACBETH, Leonora in IL TROVATORE, Santuzza in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, Giorgetta in IL TABARRO, Magda Sorel in THE CONSUL and Senta in DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER. She made her European debut in the title role of SALOME and Abigaille in NABUCCO in Germany.
Ms. Porackova’s concert repertoire includes the Mahler 2ND SYMPHONY, Verdi’s REQUIEM, Wagner’s WESENDONK LIEDER , Beethoven’s “AH..PERFIDO..” and Strauss’ VIER LETZTE LIEDER. She has performed with the Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston, the Ars Musica Chorale (NY) and Symphony Pro Musica.
She sang a recital in the Diaspora Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel, where she was the first place winner in the Jerusalem Vocal Institute Competition. She was also presented by the Wagner Society of New York in a debut recital in CAMI Hall. Ms. Porackova has worked under the direction of Gian Carlo Menotti, James Conlon, David Stern, Jean Yves Ossonce and Daniel Klajner. She has been an invited guest performing in master classes with Franco Corelli, Ely Ameling, and Giuletta Simionato.
A winner of numerous awards and competitions, Ms. Porackova was a finalist in the Richard Tucker Foundation Competition, a fellowship award winner with the Opera Theater International (OMTI) and a grant competition winner from the Wagner Society of New York. She is also prominently listed in the AMERICAN WAGNER SINGERS GOLD BOOK. In 2006 she received a special grant from the Wagner Society of New York and performed a solo recital, “The Great Heroines of German Opera”, with the Boston Wagner Society.
Ms. Porackova has released a CD with pianist Dag Achatz on Americus Records in their Russian Masters Series.
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