Reviews

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"Paula Downes floated the soaring soprano lines expertly." Musical Opinion, 2024

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"Paula Downes has provided a sensitively and intelligently compiled and edited film", Musical Opinion, 2020

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Read amazon reviews of Paula's DVD, Songs of Love & War

'In the event, Paula Downes stepped in and scored a triumphant success.' thedoriansingers.org.uk, 2017

 

'...Paula Downes' brave, exposed and extended soprano singing of her father's Dreamland...in a performance of great empathy, not least in the well-judged pauses.' Birmingham Post, 2016 

 

'...with the delightful Paula Downes as soprano soloist'. Audience Review, www.bewdleyfestival.org.uk, 2015

 

'Paula Downes brought clarity and dignity to the important soprano role, entirely in keeping with the unvarnished, folk-like vocal writing'. Musical Opinion, 2015

 

'His daughter Paula sang that role tonight, bringing purity and an affectingly plangent tone to Downes’s lyrical, plainsong-like vocal writing'. Birmingham Post, 2015

 

'...the inspired singing of Paula Downes...', Mary Wheway, Frances Brett Young Society Journal, 2015

 

'Paula Downes with her clear beautiful voice sang the soprano part', Joyce Coley, Frances Brett Young Society Journal, 2015

 

'The seat I occupied, 4th row, was excellent for observing those on stage, particularly the outstanding soprano.' Stan Hill, President, Frances Brett Young Society Journal, 2015

 

'...the excellent soprano singer.' Ian Sinclair, Frances Brett Young Society Journal, 2015

'Kudos to sopranos Paula Downes and Thea Lobo for handling the appreciable vocal gymnastics and odd moods required.' The Audiophile Audition, 2013

'Superb oboe, flute and soprano solo performaces brought a quality feel to this local enterprise.' Contact, Hagley, Church of England Parish Magazine, 2012

'Paula Downes was the soprano and Thea Lobo the mezzo in the Vines and both were excellent'. The Boston Globe, 2010

In the ‘intentionally difficult’ Torrid Nature Scene by Nicholas Vines, Paula Downes was ‘comfortable and almost playful’, performing ‘explosive sounds of the words’, ‘vocalized sighs’ and ‘distortions of mouth shapes’. The Boston Musical Intelligencer, 2010

'Paula Downes, the composer's daughter, brought a fine upper register and cold authority to the marriage-resistant Bathsheba Everdene.' Opera News, 2006

'Pride of place inevitably goes to Paula Downes as Bathsheba - she looked and lived the part and her natural unforced voice, [...] was ideally suited to the character' British Music Society Journal, 2006

'Paula Downes, the composer’s daughter, a stylish and canny performer' Church Times, UK, 2006

'Paula Downes - pure-toned and coquettish [...]And best of all, the superbly-realised first encounter between Bathsheba and Troy [...] crowned by Bathsheba's ascent into the stratosphere' Birmingham Post, UK, 2006

'Distinctive vocals rang out [...] Paula Downes, daughter of the composer and librettist, was perfectly suited to the teasing role of Bathsheba and played it with aplomb' Sandwell Chronicle, UK, 2006

'All the leading roles were in safe professional hands: Paula Downes brought a delightful purity and coquettishness to her role as the flirtatious Bathsheba Everdene' Incorporated Society of Musicians Journal, UK, 2006 

'Paula Downes...led with clear vocal projection and immaculate intonation into a moving bygone world of poetry.' Nordsee-Zeitung
 

'the cool beauty of her voice projected the atmospheric phrases [...] true and clear against the accompaniment' Birmingham Post, UK, 2005

'The soloists were outstanding - the beautiful clear voice of Paula Downes delighted everyone' Hagley Village News, 2002