Blonde in DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL – Lyric Opera of Chicago, March 2009
Kurzak... as a real spitfire of a Blonde, proving herself a pyrotechnical delight up to and including that infamous high E in a rock-solid "Durch Zaertlichkeit"- this in addition to a low A-flat in her humorous imitation of Osmin's bluster. Kurzak's exemplary handling of the dialogue crowned one of the most enjoyable of many important debuts at Lyric this season.
Opera News - Mark Thomas Ketterson
Zajick, Kurzak make the Lyric's home stretch something to sing about. The 54th Lyric Opera of Chicago season has gloried in the strength of individual performances—think of Natalie Dessay and Jonas Kaufmann in "Manon," Marlis Petersen in "Lulu" and Deborah Voigt in "Tristan und Isolde," among others. Two other distinctive vocal personalities are brightening the season's remaining productions, "Cavalleria Rusticana" (paired with "Pagliacci") and "The Abduction from the Seraglio," now playing at the Civic Opera House. Dolora Zajick is back in one of her signature roles(…) Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak has rejoined the cast of "Abduction" as the saucy maid Blonde, having missed opening night because of laryngitis. She nails every scene she's in with her natural ebullience and charm. You want funny? The scene where Blonde wraps Andrea Silvestrelli's bullying Osmin around her finger is flat-out hilarious.
Chicago Tribune - John von Rhein
Yet in responding to Aleksandra Kurzak’s Blonde in the duet “Ich gebe doch rate ich dir” Silvestrelli brought out a welcome sense of vulnerability in Osmin. Kurzak was impressive for her ability to match Silvestrelli phrase for phrase in that number, which followed quickly after her engaging interpretation of “Durch Zärtlichkeit und Schmeicheln.” As familiar as this is to regular opera audiences, Kurzak’s fluid delivery was full of facility and charm in her debut performance with Lyric Opera of Chicago
Seen and Heard International Opera Review - James L Zychowicz