As a PERFORMER:
“Danielle sings ‘Vissi d’arte’ from Tosca by Puccini. One of my favorite arias is done with a depth of emotion that she imparts so well to this role. Tosca is beseeching God to deliver her from her grief, and indeed we feel her pain. Danielle brings to life a broken woman, victimized by her circumstances. Sitting in the audience, I am moved by Danielle’s account of this operatic tragedy. She pours her heart into this aria, and yes, she is Tosca.”
– Maddalena Harris (from Memos from Maddalena)
“Danielle Davis enthralled the audience with her inspiring renditions of songs and arias by composers that included Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. The evening ended with a standing ovation of enthusiastic applause for Ms. Davis.”
– The Golden Lion
“’Sola, perduta, abbandonata’ from Puccini’s ‘Manon Lescaut’ is one of opera’s dramatic arias that Danielle is undaunted to present. Manon is heartbroken, dying, and we are transported to a place of profound sorrow. Danielle’s beautiful and powerful voice takes us there and I do all I can to stifle back tears.”
– Maddalena Harris (from Memos from Maddalena)
“Danielle Davis, our Divina soprano, has mastered Verdi’s ‘O patria mia.’ …
This is an amazing aria that only accomplished singers love to have in their repertoire and Danielle has made this masterpiece her own.”
– Maddalena Harris (from Memos from Maddalena)
“The first half of the evening was given over to a succession of arias, each sung by a different singer. It was a great opportunity to hear a lot of different artists, among whom several stood out… Danielle Davis sang “Elsa’s Dream” from Wagner’s Lohengrin with authority and good dynamic control. She started sweetly but built to an heroic climax. Although we are in the dog days of summer, New York Lyric Opera had no problem packing the house. Opera lovers are always thirsting for talent and there was plenty of that onstage!”
– Meche (from Voce di meche)
“…an aria I am enamored with, especially the high pure notes that Danielle Davis delivered with power and sustainability. Wow. One word, beautiful.”
– Maddalena Harris (from Memos from Maddalena)
As an ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
“The singers that Opera Night boasts to feature, feel they are in great company with professionalism, camaraderie , and talent abounding. Saturday’s performance was nothing shy of superb. Under the direction of Danielle Davis, the program came together flawlessly and artistically. With the artful hand of Danielle, the evening was alive with a roster of a tenor, baritone, bass and five sopranos.”…
– Maddalena Harris (from Memos from Maddalena)
“Danielle Davis is so much more than an accomplished soprano, artistic director, and stage choreographer. While I can go on to list her many attributes, I can see that she collects these accolades to her art as a testament to all her hard work and research.”
– Maddalena Harris (from Memos from Maddalena)
“At the helm of Opera Night’s production of “Suor Angelica,” was soprano with a flair, Danielle Davis. Her artistry of vocal and administrative acumen was only surpassed by her ability to orchestrate an extraordinary event such as this Puccini’s masterpiece. The eight chosen singers, in full concert attire were assembled and rehearsed by Danielle, Jessica Stolte Bender, and pianist Isabella, to near perfection. The somber tale of a woman banished away to a convent because of disgracing her noble family, was underlined and driven forward by the wonderful pianist, Jesse Pieper, and performed by singers, Danielle Davis, Kristin Starkey, Jessica Stolte Bender, Theresa Dunigan, Sonya Rice, Lorraine Helvick, Kate Wood and Emillee Carratala. A tear was not spared by our patrons, nor were the compliments during the reception. But then again, the elements were all there. The genius of Puccini, the beautiful voices, the storyline of love, loss, scandal, betrayal, and unbounded human cruelty. For this is the essence of opera, and when our opera devotees come and become a part of Opera Night’s event such as Suor Angelica, an emergence of creativity on all levels arise, and we are indeed awed and made better for it. It is a held notion that although Puccini was not political, his operas were a way of sending a message to a larger audience. In a review of “Il Trittico” from a 1920 New York Times paper, a critic speaks of women who were weeping in the aisles. When Danielle Davis sings “Senza Mama,” I too get weepy. Oh those Italians! How impressive to us that eight women in limited space, one opera, one pianist, could fill the room with so much joy as it did. Special mention to contralto, Kristin Starkey in her gripping role of “La Principessa.” Puccini understood the range of the singing voice, and how the musical score can enliven all emotions in us, good and evil, and translate this to the audiece. The production was a hit.”
– Maddalena Harris (from Memos from Maddalena)