2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2004
2011
As a Finalist in the Harold Haugh Light Opera Vocal Competition:"Third place was won by Kathryn Leemhuis, a mezzo soprano from Chicago, Illinois. Leemhuis displayed one of the biggest voices in the competition, but one that also possessed control and fine diction. She proved her operatic credentials with "Smanie implacabili" from Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, and followed it up with a smashing rendition of "What A Movie" from Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti."- Comic Opera Guild Blog (Link)As Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni at Opera Theatre St. Louis:"The two Mozart stand-outs for me were the fresh-voiced Zerlina from animated mezzo Kathryn Leemhuis, and the robust Masetto from Bradley Smoak. Ms. Leemhuis was a breath of fresh air: spontaneous, honest, and vocally assured."- James Sohre, Opera Today (Link)"Mezzo-soprano Kathryn Leemhuis showed promise with her creamy, poised singing."- Judith Malafronte, Opera News (Link)"Mezzo Kathryn Leemhuis, whom I described as a lively and provocative Flora in 2007's La Traviata, brings a fine sense of comedy and vitality to the role of the peasant Zerlina." - Chuck Lavazzi, Operatic St. Louis (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis' perky Zerlina upheld the distaff side well."- John von Rhein, The Chicago Tribune (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis, who appeared in 2007's production of La traviata, plays the reluctant Zerlina with bold vivacity."- Rob Levy, KGHX.org (Link)"Kishani Jayasinghe and Kathryn Leemhuis supplied attractive sopranos as, respectively, a glamorous Donna Elvira and a sensible Zerlina."- Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis [was] an unusually grounded Zerlina."- Steve Smith, The New York Times (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis sang beautifully and seductively as Zerlina." - Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Today (Link)"There were a number of other standouts in the cast, including Kathryn Leemhuis who sang a clear and sweet Zerlina along side Bradley Smoaks' not entirely hapless Masetto."- Instant Encore Online (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis and Bradley Smoak were solid as Zerlina and Masetto."- Heidi Walesom, The Wall Street Journal (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis and Charles Mackay Career Development Fund Artist Bradley Smoak offer splendid turns as the spirited if dim-witted peasants Zerlina and Masetto."- Ladue News (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis was also very good as Zerlina, a country girl who is spotted by Don Giovanni on her wedding day but manages to fight him off."- AloneWithEachOther Online (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis as Masetto's fiancée Zerlina, baritone Elliot Madore as Giovanni and tenor David Portillo as Ottavio bring fine voices to the most difficult and disjointedly written characters." - Lew Prince, River Front Times (Link)
2010
As Amaltea in Rossini's Mosè in Egitto at the Chicago Opera Theater:"Faraone was joined in his florid statement with the equally challenging line composed for Amaltea, here sung admirably by Kathryn Leemhuis, a member of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Leemhuis gave a strong individual impression in her careful decoration yet blended with the others to yield a memorable and dramatic ensemble."- Salvatore Calomino, Opera Today (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis delivered an excellent Amaltea, biting off her consonants like a scrappish piranha and coursing through the queen's volatile writing with precision and flash."- Mark Thomas Ketterson, Opera News (Link)"Equally strong was Kathryn Leemhuis, who brought to life her role as the Pharaoh’s wife Amaltea and Osiride’s mother: her singing in the second-act quartet was stunning in its combination of musical and dramatic nuance."- James L. Zychowicz, Living at the Opera.com (Link)"Ryan Opera Center mezzo Kathryn Leemhuis let fly some exciting singing as the pharaoh's consort, Amaltea."- John von Rhein, The Chicago Tribune (Link)"Regal and imperious, Kathryn Leemhuis was a superb Amaltea, her gleaming mezzo-soprano cutting through ensembles, and making one wish the Act 2 aria for Pharoah’s wife had not been excised."- Lawrence A. Johnson, Chicago Classical Review (Link)"...his queen, the realistic and prudent Amaltea, a role that Kathryn Leemhuis sings beautifully."- Scotty Zacher, Chicago Theater Blog (Link)As a featured soloist in The Rising Stars Concert at the Lyric Opera of Chicago:"Graduating second-year Kathryn Leemhuis was both solid and appealing in Bellini and Mozart scenes."- Andrew Patner, Chicago Sun Times (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis dispatched Romeo's first act aria from I Capuleti e i Montecchi with a great display of bravura singing."- Brian Dickie, Web Blog (Link)
2009
As the Alto Soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 at Millenium Park, Chicago:"...aided by Kathryn Leemhuis’ more mellow mezzo-soprano."- Wynne Delacoma, Chicago Classical Review (Link)As Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Opera Center:"And how good it was to see and hear Kathryn Leemhuis dispatch Donna Elvira with such aplomb."- Brian Dickie, Web Blog (Link)As Giovanna in Verdi's Ernani at the Lyric Opera of Chicago:"Ryan Opera Center members Kathryn Leemhuis (Giovanna), Paul Corona (Jago) and Rene Barbera (Riccardo) all sang with conviction and a great deal of security that was completely lacking in some of the principals. They all deserve mention because their singing showed much promise. Great job you guys! Let’s hope for bigger and better things from all of you."- Lindoro Almaviva, Web Blog (Link)"The comprimario parts were uniformly well taken by Ryan Opera Center members Kathryn Leemhuis (Giovanna), Paul Corona (Jago) and Rene Barbera (Riccardo)."- John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune (Link)"The comprimario roles were solidly served: Kathryn Leemhuis delivered a richly sung Giovanna..."- Mark Thomas Ketterson, Opera News (Link)As Glasa in Janáek's Kát'a Kabanová at the Lyric Opera of Chicago:"Ryan Opera Center members Amber Wagner, Kathryn Leemhuis and Paul La Rosa fleshed out cameo roles deftly."- John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune (Link)
2008
As Tulip in Bolcom's A Wedding at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music:"Kathryn Leemhuis (the bride's mother) and Anthony Webb (the groom's father) were particularly touching in their portrayals."- Charles Parsons, Opera News (Link)As Lady Artisan in Berg's Lulu at the Lyric Opera of Chicago:"Others among the solid ensemble included ... a trio of enraged stockholders (Corey Crider, Kathryn Leemhuis and Katherine Lerner) that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley."- Mark Thomas Ketterson, Opera News (Link)As Javotte in Massenet's Manon at the Lyric Opera of Chicago:“"Along with the spunky, frivolous flirtations of Andriana Chuchman, Kathryn Leemhuis and Katherine Lerner as the three demimondes Poussette, Javotte and Rosette.”"- Christie Grimstad, The Classical Music Network (Link)
2007
As Flora in Verdi's La traviata at Opera Theatre St. Louis:“"Kathryn Leemhuis was the attractively naughty Flora…”."- Judith Malafronte, Opera News (Link)“"And mezzo Kathryn Leemhuis a lively and provocative Flora.”"- StageLeft, St. Louis (Link)As Dorabella in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte at the Tanglewood Music Center:"At any rate, one does not have to be a prophet to predict that young singers like ... Kathryn Leemhuis, as the flighty Dorabella, can make their way to the great European stages..."- Wolfgang Sandner, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Link)"Kathryn Leemhuis contributed a hot-to-trot Dorabella, wielding her robust mezzo assertively."- George Loomis, Financial Times Daily Newspaper (Link)“"Kathryn Leemhuis acted vividly and showed smart vocal instincts as Dorabella.”"- Jeremy Eichler, The Boston Globe (Link)"Lauren Skuce and Kathryn Leemhuis were particularly well matched as the sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella. Ms. Leemhuis was at every step a worthy foil."- James Oestreich, The New York Times (Link)
2006
As a featured soloist in the Marilyn Horne Foundation's The Song Continues Festival at Carnegie Hall:“"Ms. Leemhuis, a mezzo-soprano with a warm, dusky voice ...” "- Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times (Link)
2005
2004
As Hermia in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Tanglewood Music Center:"Leemhuis also has a jewel of a voice, even as Hermia runs wailing through the forest, comically limping with one high-heeled shoe off as she flees the unwanted advances of erroneously drugged Demetrius."- Leslie Kandell, American Record Guide (Link)"“... Among the quartet of lovers, Kathryn Leemhuis (Hermia) and Randall Bills (Lysander) were especially strong.”"- Williard Spiegelman, Opera News (Link)“"Kathryn Leemhuis’' smoothly voiced Hermia nicely complimented Erika Rauer’s Helena, sung urgently and with iridescent tone.”"- George Loomis, Financial Times (Link)"“Mezzo Kathryn Leemhuis and soprano Erika Rauer were well-matched as Athenian maids Hermia and Helena.”"- Clifton J. Noble Jr., www.MassLive.com (Link)As Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina:“"Kathryn Leemhuis (Dido), with sweet and penetrating vocal timbre and a refined fit, in a very exposed role, conferred expressive interest in every moment. She and the rest of the cast - with perfect period diction - performed beyond the static characteristics of baroque classical music.”"- Hector Coda, La Nacion Line, Buenos Aires (Link)As Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music:“"The title characters were sung Friday by Oberlin students Kathryn Leemhuis, who brought penetrating nuances to Dido ...”"- Donald Rosenberg, The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Link)
2003
As Hänsel in Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music:"Kathryn Leemhuis filled the pants role of Hänsel with gawky allure, singing with brio and delightfully conveying the boys mischievous humor."- Donald Rosenberg, The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Link)
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