"A beautiful soprano, Portune sings a most convincing Adina... Having recently heard the Vienna State Opera's performance of "Elixir," I was prepared to be disappointed, given that Vienna had world opera superstars Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon. It is not an exaggeration to say the Rogue Opera's staging and singing at times equaled and even exceeded the artistic standards of the famed Austrian venue."
Mail Tribune
"Musically, conductor James Caraher and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra provided caressing accompaniments to such fine songs as the love object Yum-Yum's companionate ode to the sun and moon and the shrewish Katisha's surprisingly touching lament beginning "Hearts do not break!" They were illuminatingly performed by Laura Portune and Susan Nicely, respectively."
Indianapolis Star
"Laura Portune scored a triple double with her acting, singing and dancing."
Adam Alonzo - Dayton Daily News
"As Valencienne, the Baron’s much younger wife, Dayton native Laura Portune uses her light, supple soprano and effervescent acting to great advantage. She can shake a leg with the best of them as indicated by her appearance as a ‘grisette’ amid the can-can dancers in Act 3. Also, her spirited flirtation with Camille de Rosillon, sung by Matt Morgan, adds a humorous counterpoint to the tug-of-war between Hanna and Danilo." Eric Street - Dayton City Paper
"I was caught off guard by some strangely feminine sound coming out of the Dulcinea's four male suitors.... until I realized that 2 of them are actually trouser roles (male roles written for female singers)! Both Laura Portune (Pedro) and Rebecca Skaar (Garcias) fit so well into their male costume that it took hearing their voice to realize that they are actually ladies."
SmorgZone
Tosca - San Diego Opera "The translucent voice of Laura Portune as the Shepherd Boy pleasingly lifts us into the heavens."
Christie Grimstad - Concertonet.com
"The cast was rounded out by a charming performance by the returning Laura Portune as the Shepherd Boy." Dawn Southwick - Classical Voice San Diego
The aria "Glitter and Be Gay" had a coloratura virtuosity worthy of opera... Nothing was showier than "Glitter and Be Gay," which soprano Laura Portune (as the female lead, Cunegonde) performed with winning confidence. Give her extra credit for poise – she had to sing it while getting undressed.
Valerie Scher - Union Tribune
"As his elusive love object, Cunegonde, soprano Laura Portune’s brilliant coloratura is equally winning, especially in her role’s show-stopping “Glitter and Be Gay” aria, which she sings with panache and agility. She can slip into her character’s many personae with the ease of changing a pair of gloves." Kenneth Herman - San Diego Arts
Tannhäuser - San Diego Opera
"The cast was rounded out by a charming performance by the returning Laura Portune as the Shepherd Boy." Dawn Southwick - Classical Voice San Diego
Don Giovanni - Dayton Opera
"Laura Portune uses her light, flexible soprano and excellent acting ability to create a toothsome Zerlina whose first-act flirtation with Giovanni nearly derails her impending marriage. Portune and Shircliffe (Masetto) truly gel as a couple onstage and bring out the humorous side of Mozart’s “drama giocoso,” his playful drama."
Eric Street - Dayton City Paper
Carmen - Des Moines Metro Opera
"Laura Portune and Kellie Van Horn also make the most of their roles as Carmen’s feisty sidekicks. Portune’s soprano, in particular, sparkles above even the full chorus"
Michael Morain - Des Moines Register
"Another perfect pairing is soprano Laura Portune and tenor David Gagnon... as Valencienne and Rosillon. Their love songs in Act 2 melt the cold winter air, even this week's cold winter air."
Barbara Zuck - The Columbus Dispatch
Hansel and Gretel - Opera Columbus
"Laura Portune doubled nicely as the Sandman and the Dewfairy."
Charles H. Parsons - Opera News
"In act one, the flirtatious Portune overwhelmed Johnson, both vocally and by her exceptional stage presence. Later Johnson’s powerful tenor, which handled the demanding top notes bravely, melded with Portune’s soprano, and the two seemed transported into a Verdi opera."
Michael L. Grenwald
"Soprano Laura Portune is enchanting as the flirtatious Valencienne (a role she created for Lyric Opera several years ago), and her voice is powerful and pleasing."
Dale Morris - SDTheaterScene.com
Cenerentola - Dayton Opera
"Bass Thomas Hammons, a veteran of the Metropolitan Opera stage was the mean step-father. And his comic sensibility was well complimented by Cinderella's stepsisters Clorinda and Tisbe, Laura Portune and Christy Lynn Brown, respectively... Portune's extended family can well be proud of her accomplishment."
Carol Simmons - Dayton Daily News
"Beautiful Laura Portune has always delivered unforgettable performances. I still remember her Peter Pan of more than a decade ago. She joined with Christy Lynn Brown as the frivolous and shrewish sisters who taunt poor Cinderella and pursue the prince relentlessly - an opportunity for both to show off their excellent singing as well as their zany antics."
Burt Saidel - The Oakwood Register
"The Arcadian couple are simply outstanding in every way, vocally and in their natural yet convincing character portrayals.."
Columbus Dispatch
La Bohème - Glenns Falls Symphony
"Especially notable was soprano Laura Portune's rendition of "Quando m'en vo." Her portrayal of feminine temptation and desire was beautifully sung and acted. She took over the stage with gusto."
The Chronicle
Don Carlo - San Diego Opera
"Laura Portune sang sweetly as both Tebaldo and the celestial voice."
SignOnSanDiego.com
"Laura Portune was a lively Tebaldo and her Celestial Voice was radiant with glorious sound."
Opera japonica
Il barbiere di Siviglia - San Diego Comic Opera
"As Rosina, Laura Portune has a sweet voice, particularly in the piano sections. "
Gay and Lesbian Times
"Soprano Laura Portune was a confident Rosina."
SignOnSanDiego.com
The Pirates of Penzance - Opera Columbus
"But what wonderful romantic leads. Music and direction conspire to bring real drama and suspense to the pairing of Frederick, Eric Johnston, and Mabel, Laura Portune. And these performers bring vocal magic to their roles.."
The Columbus Dispatch
The Merry Widow - San Diego Comic Opera
"Laura M. Portune has a strong and lovely singing voice as Valencienne."
Pam Dragen - San Diego Tribune
"Laura M. Portune-- also a lyric soprano-- played the reluctant, wandering wife with a pleasant, light, somewhat flinty voice."
Rick Mortensen - SignOnSanSiego
Opera Concert - Dayton
"It's hard to pick a favorite performance, but a few stand out. Laura Portune's solo performance of Haydn's The Marv'lous Work was met with enthusiastic applause"
Kathy Whyde Jesse - Dayton Daily News
Il coronazione di Poppea - University of Notre Dame
"Most prominent were the two wonderfully matched leads, soprano Laura Portune in the title role and tenor Magnus Hillbo as her lover, the emperor Nero. Both physically attractive and dramatically assured, their voices had the clarity and flexibility to negotiate Monteverdi's intricate, irregular and capricious melody."
Robert Rhein - South Bend Tribune
Peter Pan - Dayton
"Laura Portune was terrific at Peter. Her energetic entrance through the window was like a blast of fresh air. She was equally good as she sang "I Won't Grow Up" with a jovial defiance and as she quietly reminiscences during "Neverland"... As the orchestra played "I'm Flying" there were a few minutes which literally took your breath away as the four of them flew among the stars to Neverland. There were times when it seemed Portune would literally fly out of the theatre as she zipped back and forth, often into the wings, playfully laughing all the while."
Mark Kellam
PRESS
The Elixir of Love - Rogue Opera
