REVIEWS

Arizona Opera's Carmen
"Their feminine counterparts Rebecca Sjöwall and Stephanie Foley Davis suffused their phrases with emotion as Frasquita and Mercédès. Sjöwall has lovely high notes and they were most welcome in this opera where the title role is sung by a mezzo."
- Opera Today

Arizona Opera's Pirates of Penzance
"With their strong performances in this show, Arizona Opera's Pullin Studio artists: Rebecca Sjöwall, soprano, as Edith, Stephanie Foley-Davis, mezzo-soprano, as Kate and Kevin Wetzel, tenor, as Sam proved that they are worthy heirs of the operetta stage. We can look forward to hearing Sjöwall as Frasquita in next month's Carmen."
- Opera Today

UCLA & needtheater's world premiere of The First Lady
"In fact, Wells reserves his most moving aria for the character that is the piece's true dramatic heart -- Anna Roosevelt Boettiger (soprano Rebecca Sjowall in an outstanding performance). Considering that it is Anna who, out of loyalty to her father, invites Lucy to Warm Springs knowing she is also betraying Eleanor, and that the bulk of the opera concerns her attempts to win Eleanor's forgiveness, the work might be more accurately called The First Daughter."
- L.A. Weekly

Festival Opera's Turandot
"The finest vocalism and the most persuasive performance of all came from Rebecca Sjowall as the slave girl Liu, who sacrifices herself to save her beloved Calaf. Her 'Tanto amore segreto' aria, building up to the suicidal plunge of the knife into her breast, was delivered with great pathos and bell-like clarity."
- Contra Costa Times

"Soprano Rebecca Sjöwall sang a lovely and limpid Liù, making her opening plea to Calaf ('Signore, ascolta!') beautifully modulated and her closing suicide before Turandot ('Tanto amore segreto') deeply affecting."
- San Francisco Classical Voice

"Rebecca Sjöwall is engaging in her portrayal of the woman who has secretly loved her master's son since the one day he cast a smile her way...Sjöwall's tender-yet-mature voice is well suited to the character."
- Martinez Gazette

"Singing the part of Liu, the peasant whose hopeless love for Calaf leads to her downfall, is Rebecca Sjöwall, and her warm soprano and soft penetrating notes brought the house down."
- Piedmont Post

"Rebecca Sjöwall gave a moving performance as the love-stricken Liù..."
-The Epoch Times

San Francisco Lyric Opera's Rigoletto
"His daughter Gilda, sung by Rebecca Sjöwall, showed real promise. Lovely to look at, with a bearing and countenance that I hope will grow more animated with additional stage experience, the two-time District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions recently received her master's of music in vocal performance from UCLA. The voice grows lovelier and stronger as it rises far above the stave, culminating in an impressive high E-flat."
- San Francisco Classical Voice

"The three principal characters are particularly solid, discharging their signature scenes with flair (Rigoletto and Gilda's father-daughter duet at the end of Act II is especially affecting)...León as the Duke is all careless, oily charm, singing of woman's fickleness even while the smitten Gilda plots to save his life by sacrificing hers. Sjöwall brings a powerhouse voice to that role, nicely embodying both naiveté and passion."
- SF Weekly

"Having sat through plenty of mediocre performances at regional opera companies in cities like Norfolk, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Miami, I was deeply impressed with the musicianship and artistry that was evident throughout this production...A great deal of credit goes to the company's artistic director, Barnaby Palmer, who conducted the performance with confidence, control, and solid tempi. The cast was headed by bearish baritone David Cox in the title role and tenor Jesus Leon as the Duke of Mantua. While impressive contributions came from basso Sergey Zadvorney (doubling as Monterone and Sparafucile), and Kindra Scharich as Maddalena, it was Rebecca Sjowall, whose solid technique delivered a memorable Gilda. Ms. Sjowall, who received her master's degree in Vocal Performance from UCLA in June of 2008, is definitely a talent to watch."
-George Heymont, My Cultural Landscape

West Bay Opera's Carmen
"...an exceedingly lovely 'Je dis, que rien ne m'épouvante' (I said that nothing can frighten me). Standing alone at center stage, she lit up the proceedings with glowing, sweet tone and a radiant persona, which rightfully reaped some of the longest applause of the evening."
- San Francisco Classical Voice

"Another new voice for West Bay is Rebecca Sjowall in the role of Micaela. Her gorgeous liquid soprano perfectly matches the melancholy innocence of her character."
- Palo Alto Weekly

"West Bay Opera has come up with one of the best productions I have reviewed in many a year...high points: The luscious and soaring soprano voice of Rebecca Sjowall as the village maid Micaela..."
- The Daily Journal (San Mateo)

Jenny Lind Concert Tour, Sweden
"Rebecca Sjöwall, å andra sidan, är mer åt det lyriska hållet men har nog så mycket bett, när det behövs, vilket märktes i Rosalindes Czardas ur Die Fledermaus. Vilket härligt utspel! Strauss' Zueignung (ovanligt raskt tempo, men varför inte...) och Die Nacht var mer än njutbara liksom nämnda Dickinson Songs. Som sagt, det är hög standard på stipendiaterna i år."

"Rebecca Sjöwall, on the other hand, is more towards the lyric direction but has more than enough bite, when it is needed, which showed itself in Rosalinde's Csardas from Die Fledermaus. What a delightful performance! Strauss' Zueignung (uncommonly fast tempo, but why not...) and Die Nacht were more than enjoyable as were the aforementioned Dickinson Songs. As stated, the scholars are of a high standard this year."
- Eskilstuna-Kuriren


Redlands Bowl Young Artists Concert
"Rebecca performed 'Quando m'en vo' from 'La Boheme' and 'Csardas' from 'Die Fledermaus'. Her voice was strong and she could hold an incredible note. Her performance was animated and her singing was beautiful."
- Redlands Daily Facts

Barnum Festival American Jenny Lind Vocal Competition
"Sjowall, a Milwaukee native, whose soaring soprano thrilled the audience at Salem Lutheran Church...will tour Sweden for a series of performances with that country's Jenny Lind contest winner...What seemed to put Sjowall over the top was her delightful, comedic performance of Johann Strauss' 'Csardas'..."
- Connecticut Post

"This is an amazing singer you simply must hear to believe. Rebecca is currently studying for her Masters Degree in Music and Vocal Performance at UCLA. She will be returning to Bridgeport to perform on stage with the winner of the Swedish Jenny Lind on June 28 at the Playhouse on the Green. I hope the glass windows at the Playhouse don't break. You simply have to see this performance."
- Larry Merriam, Barnum Festival Ringmaster 2007


ARTICLES

The Swedish newspaper Norrköpings Tidningar featured Rebecca in an article entitled "An American nightingale in the city" as she prepared for her Swedish recital tour as the American Jenny Lind. To read the article (in Swedish), click here. (July 18, 2007)