Gutrune
Götterdämmerung | Richard Wagner, The Ring Cycle
“Gutrune, Maija Kovalevska gave us an impressive lyric soprano with soaring top notes. She was delightful in her swooning attention to Siegfried, after he drank Hagan’s love potion, and distraught on discovering his death.”
– Opera review: Götterdämmerung (The Ring Cycle), QPAC
”Well-crafted and powerfully delivered, Götterdämmerung’s resounding success concluded a polished and exceptional Ring Cycle presented by Opera Australia in Brisbane.”
– Dec 2023, Suzannah Conway
”Kovalevska has a sweet voice and a winning stage personality…”
– Review on Chen Shi-Zheng’s Asian-Pacific Ring • Opera Australia by Michael Halliwell | ABR Arts • December 2023
”The rich and dynamic-voiced Maija Kovalevska is sterling as the whirlwind of circumstances engulf Gutrune.”
– Operatoday.com | STAGED OPERAS • Götterdämmerung at Opera Australia | December 2023, Paul Selar
Floria Tosca
Tosca | Giacomo Puccini
"Soprano Maija Kovalevska's Tosca holds centre stage with an effortless presence and voice, rolling instantly from infatuation to jealousy and back in naturally nuanced interplay with her lover."
"Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore"- I lived for art, I lived for love- her existential cry infuses every corner of the theatre with soaring, poignant phrases dying to silence then rising again; lyrical and limpid."
– David Cusworth, The West Australian
"Kovalevska, her intonation perfect, her tone sublime and her theatrical portrayal of Tosca intense to the final seconds of the opera, was the undoubted star."
–Western Australia's Arts Magazine - seesawmag.com.au
Reviews on the performance in His Majesty's Theatre, Perth July 2022
Desdemona
Otello | Giuseppe Verdi
"Maija Kovalevska's Desdemona was a treat for the ears and the eyes. Her voice has grown in size and is now a full lyric soprano perfect for Verdi roles such as this one. It shows that she is a pupil of Mirella Freni, specially in the way she sings this role, which was such an iconic Freni role. Her phrasing is exquisite, her sound blooms in the middle register with warmth and amplitude and she has blazing high notes that fill the theater. As an actress, Kovalevska portrayed Desdemona as an innocent yet strong woman who faced her death with courage and proving, through this sacrifice, her love for Otello. Her voice soars effortlessly through the orchestra, especially in the concertante of the end of Act III. She sang a very touching "Canzone del Salice" and an ethereal "Ave Maria". Desdemona fits like a glove in Kovalevska's voice and we hope she will keep this role in her repertory and will sing it more often in the future."
– Review on the performance in Teatro Degollado, Guadalajara, November 2016 Opera Click
Mimi
La Bohème | Giacomo Puccini
"The Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska is an exceptional Mimi. She brings a plush, warm voice and wistful expressivity to her singing. A lovely woman and a sensitive actress, she brought out Mimi’s sweetness while suggesting that this character is ready to embrace love impulsively because she senses life slipping away from her"
– Review on the performance in The Metropolitan Opera. Jan 2014 The New York times (Tommasini)
Micaela
Carmen | Georges Bizet
"The most impressive showing of the night came from the Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska making her Covent garden debut as Don Joses's first love, the innocent Micaela. Looking radiant and singing superbly, she brought great depth and passion to the role"
– Review on the performance in London Royal Opera House. June 2010 Daily Express
Tatiana
Eugene Onegin | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
"Maija Kovalevska's Tatiana is gloriously sung, the tone lustrous from top to toe"
– Review on the performance in Glyndebourne Festival. May 2008 The London times
EUROPE
LATVIA
Latvian National Opera – debut 2003 as Donna Elvira, Mimi, Liu, Contessa
Sigulda Opera Festival – debut 2002 as Giannetta, Lola, Saffi, Donna Elvira, Leila, Tatiana, Micaela
NORWAY
Kristiansand Opera Festival – debut 2005 as Donna Elvira
ITALY
Verona and Reggio Emilia – debut 2006 as Donna Elvira
Torre del Lago Puccini Festival – debut 2009 as Mimi
Milan La Scala – debut 2011 as Liu
Rome Teatro dell’Opera – debut 2013 as Liu
Palermo Teatro Massimo – debut 2014 as Donna Elvira
Genova Teatro Carlo Felice – debut 2016 as Donna Elvira
Padova Teatro Verdi – debut 2016 as Mimi
SPAIN
Valencia Palau de les Arts – debut 2006 as Mimi
Madrid Auditorio Nacional – debut 2015 Verdi Requiem
AUSTRIA
Salzburg Festival –debut 2007 as Teresa
Vienna State Opera – debut 2011 Tatiana, Mimi, Micaela, Contessa, Violetta,
Amelia-Maria;( in tour Royal Opera House Muskat 2013 as Contessa)
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague National Opera – debut 2008 solo concert
GERMANY
Munich Bayerische Staatsoper – debut 2009 Mimi, Micaela and Donna Elvira
Hamburg State Opera – debut 2012 as Contessa and Mimi
Hannover State Opera – debut 2016 as Mimi
Dresden Semperoper – debut 2011 Iolanta and Mimi
GREAT BRITAIN
Glyndebourne Festival – debut 2008 as Tatiana
London Royal Opera House Covent Garden – debut 2010 Micaela and Mimi 2012 and 2013
FRANCE
Paris Theatre des Champs-Elysees – debut 2009 Contessa and Verdi Requiem 2015
SWITZERLAND
Grand Théâtre de Genève – debut 2014 Tatiana and Alice Ford 2016
NORTH AMERICA
The Metropolitan Opera – debut 2006 as Mimi, Euridice, Micaela, Contessa, Liu ,
total more than 50 performances;
Los Angeles Opera – debut 2007 as Mimi
San Francisco Opera – debut 2008 as Mimi
Boston Symphony Hall – debut 2008
Washington National Opera – debut 2009 as Liù
Mexico Teatro Degollado – debut 2014 Micaela and Desdemona 2016
SOUTH AMERICA
Buenos Aires Teatro Colón – debut 2013 as Contessa
Theatro Municipal de São Paolo – debut 2016 as Mimi
AUSTRALIA and ASIA
Sydney Opera Australia – as Mimi 2015 and 2016
Tokyo New National Theatre – debut 2007 as Contessa
Guangzhou Opera House – debut 2013 as Liu