Stephanie HOUTZEEL, mezzo-soprano

Press Reviews:

The Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Wiener Staatsoper:

"Stephanie Houtzeel is an undoubted new asset to the Staatsoper ensemble. Her Komponist is a handsome, passionate and credible figure, vocally solid and noble in tone." - Moore Parker, The Opera Critic, March, 2011

"Stephanie Houtzeel, in the role of the Composer, delivers perhaps the most convincing Strauss-tone of the evening." - Die Presse, March 9, 2011

Dorabella in Così fan tutte - Wiener Staatsoper:

"Houtzeel is a believable actress capable of great expression.  This becomes clear, for example, in the duet with Guglielmo (Ildebrando d'Arcangelo)....together they create a theater-piece out of nuanced, musical drama." - Die Presse (Wilhelm Sinkovicz), January 24, 2011

Kreusa in Medea (Aribert Reimann) - Wiener Staatsoper:

"The Vienna public was introduced to a new Kreusa with Stephanie Houtzeel: displaying a beautiful, full-sounding voice and the dance-like moves of girlish naivete that this role requires." - Oper in Wien, November, 2010

"Stephanie Houtzeel, with a clear mezzo and dancing movements, prevents Kreusa from being a pale [character]." - Wiener Zeitung, 2 December 2010

Second Norn in Götterdämmerung – Wiener Staatsoper:

“Nadja Krasteva, Stephanie Houtzeel and Caroline Wenborne are three Norns with eminent vocal radiance, each one with their own character. Together, they lead us with conviction into the Tragedy of the Worlds, in that they take over the intense philharmonic tone and transform it into a vocal one.” – Die Presse (Wilhelm Sinkovicz, April 14, 2011)

Recital – Vienna Musikverein:

“In songs by Borodin, Carter, Ives, Davidovsky, Reutter, as well as by Brahms and Debussy, Houtzeel displayed power, vocal sophistication, a cultivated technique and an expressiveness throughout her (vocal) range.  For her, singing means making chamber music with her partners. After appearances as Octavian, Dorabella, and especially as Kreusa in Reimann’s Medea, one can look forward to her next performances at the Staatsoper.” – Die Krone, February 28, 2011