Adina in L'ELISIR D'AMORE - ROH Covent Garden London , November 2007
No French or Florez this time, but certainly a star performance from the Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, here turning that capricious rustic minx Adina into a voluptuous sexpot in the Loren/Lollobrigida mould. From the moment the curtain rises on her displaying a generous amount of leg (not to mention cleavage) while rolling around on the top of a mountain of hay bales, you know this is going to be a very saucy assumption. (…) Pelly keeps the fun on the run (…), while Ms Kurzak adds vocal refinement to sex appeal.
Daily Mail - David Gillard
As Adina, Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak (…) brings a sexy swagger to the role of Adina. She has a strong voice which embraces those higher notes, and as the evening progresses, she becomes an increasingly magnetic stage presence.
CityAM - Johanna Thomas-Corr
Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak played Adina as a cross between Julie Burchill, bursting with attitude, and Scarlett O'Hara, shrewd and vain until finally she melts. It worked a treat. Kurzak, like Secco, tackles her role with confidence but she, too, is still developing vocally.
The Evening Standard - Fiona Maddocks
Adina, the Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, poses and pouts with more determination than Posh Spice, while the confidence and capriciousness of her character is wonderfully conveyed in the delicious ease of her coloratura. When she finally pours out her heart to Nemorino – "I'll make you as happy as I used to make you miserable" – she seals the promise with a stunning two-octave plunge. True love has its highs and lows, after all.
The Independent - Edward Seckerson
In the event, Stefano Secco made a respectable Nemorino, fitting in to a well-drilled cast in which Aleksandra Kurzak's Adina and Paolo Gavanelli's Dulcamara were outstanding.(…) The two stars of the evening, however, were Kurzak and Gavanelli. Kurzak's charming physical presence and natural acting ability were matched by a voice, used with style and taste, which struck a happy balance between lyrical beauty and athleticism. The fioritura was negotiated with ease.(…) On the whole, this is still an enjoyable evening out and well worth catching for Kurzak and Gavanelli alone.
MusicalCriticism.com - Hugo Shirley
Better known to the House is Aleksandra Kurzak, a very accomplished soprano who is progressively winning the hearts of the London audience after very good renditions of Aspasia (Mitridate), Norina (Don Pasquale) and now Adina. Her coloratura, her savoir dire and her energetic acting granted her the best ovation of the evening.
Mundoclasico.com - Enrique Sacau
Pelly's 20 years of dramatic experience bring a vivid, unforced, all too rare theatricality to his operatic stagings, shot through with witty, imaginative detail. In the process, on this occasion, he unveils a potential new superstar in sprightly young Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, a natural stage comedienne with a crystal-clear voice of pristine beauty. Sunbathing on the giant haystack that dominates the opening scene, Kurzak saucily embodies the uppity tease whose fascination with the story of Tristan and Isolde gives the lovelorn village loser, Nemorino, daft ideas. On the first night, the wide-eyed, at times Chaplinesque Secco proved the perfect foil to the agile, sexy Kurzak. Kurzak and Secco offer a reassuring reminder that many of the new generation of opera stars can act as well as they can sing.
The Observer - Anthony Holden
Aleksandra Kurzak is an engaging Adina right out of 'Ossessione'.
Time Out London
Aleksandra Kurzak is little short of sensational as Adina (…) Kurzak twinkles and shines without resorting to the tricks that some sopranos use to try and persuade us they're young and vivacious. She's the real thing with a stunning voice, especially in the higher register, and tremendous acting ability, which Pelly draws upon to maximum effect.
musicOMH.com - Simon Thomas