Press & Reviews:
MARI PEPA, September 2022
Broadway World
"Laura Virella's portrayal of the supposed 'agitator and troublemaker' was well-developed to show the character's inherent understanding of her control and humor. Ms. Virella shone in the passionate duet with Joselu Lόpez as Felipe."
MARI PEPA, September 2022
DC Theatre Arts
"The central love story wins our hearts in the music, thanks in great part to the beautiful voices of the two leads Joselu López as Felipe and Laura Virella as Mari Pepa, who excel in both singing and acting chops.”
CARMEN, August 2019
Daze Magazine
"Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella hits all the right notes—she’s flirtatious, sensual, sympathetic, full of fire and delivers a stellar vocal performance."
FRIDA, June 2017
The LA Times
“An instantly believable Frida, a capable singer and actor, compelling on stage.”
CARMEN, August 2019
Opera Canada
"Mezzo Laura Virella made a strong impression as Carmen. She presented a very sexy, defiant femme fatale, indeed."
CARMEN, August 2019
Gigcity.ca
"As Carmen, Virella is sensual, uninhibited and liberated – a Carmen for our times."
FRIDA, June 2017
Hoy LA
"Virella is a spectacular Frida, absolutely eloquent in her feminist, liberal, and revolutionary sermons, and fully convincing in her representation of the physical and mental pain that were inseparable parts of Frida's existence."
FRIDA, June 2017
LA Weekly
"Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella is vibrant in the title role."
FRIDA, June 2017
Hoy LA
"Laura Virella plays the role of Frida with a conviction and vocal power worth hearing in person."
FRIDA, June 2017
People's World
"The fine Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella, making her LBO debut, is almost always on stage in the title role, negotiating not only the music but moving around both on her own two legs and by wheelchair. She totally looks and inhabits the part."
FRIDA, June 2017
ShowMag
"Laura Virella is a vibrant Frida with an attractive, plush sound."
FRIDA, June 2017
Press-Telegram
"Frida [was] played with feisty intensity by Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella."
FRIDA, June 2017
Culture Spot LA
"Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella was exceptional in her leading role."
FRIDA, June 2017
Gazettes
"Laura Virella in the title role possesses a bright, luminescent mezzo that at once conveys Kahlo's passion and her pain. A completely realized performance, singing and acting with both beauty, when called for, and intensity."
FRIDA, June 2017
Easy Reader News
"Mezzo-soprano Laura Virella is compelling as Frida, and Bernardo Bermudez, a lyric baritone, is a fine match. They don't sing many arias together, but when they do, it's hard to resist being pulled in and embraced by their voices."
MADDALENA, May 2016
Voce di Meche
"As Maddalena, mezzo-soprano Laura Virella was totally believable--just as vulnerable to the charms of the Duke as Gilda was--and convincingly persuasive with her brother as she begged him to spare the Duke's life, even as he sings the famous 'La donna è mobile', driving the audience wild."
CARMEN, July 2015
La Vanguardia
"The fabulous Laura Virella's Carmen is excellent, as she powerfully begins her career."
FRAU REICH, March 2015 (DIE LUSTIGEN WEIBER VON WINDSOR)
"[Virella] seconds [Frau Fluth] with outraged sisterly solidarity. Virella's straightforward, unaffected mezzo-soprano is a pleasure to listen to."
OCTAVIAN, August 2012
Kleine Zeitung
"Worldwide beloved Kammersängerin Linda Watson impressed with her precise phrasing and interpretation, as did Laura Virella, from Puerto Rico, with her fervent Octavian."
FRAUENLIEBE UND -LEBEN, December 2012
Susan Mardinly, Porfessor of Voice, Hartt School of Music
"Laura has a wonderfully trained voice, a beautiful presence, superb musicianship, and really good diction. However, it was her soulful interpretation that is so stunning it made me hang on every word, every nuance. Singers, especially mezzos, Run to hear her when she is in town!!"
LUISA FERNANDA 2011
DC Theatre Scene
"Mezzo-soprano Laura Virella, as Luisa, demonstrates an impressive emotional range in her acting as she effortlessly projects nuance from ebullience to melancholia in her phrasing."
OLD WOMAN (CANDIDE) 2011
Taminophile
As the Old Woman, mezzo Laura Virella was the greatest standout of this show. She gave us singing that was beautiful and acting that was just histrionic enough. Her comic timing was the best of the evening. It was clear Miss Virella was having tremendous fun.
OLD WOMAN (CANDIDE) 2011
The Opera Insider
"Laura Virella used her rich mezzo to great advantage in the hilarious role of The Old Lady."
LUISA FERNANDA 2008
DC Theatre Scene
"The title role is sung by silky-toned mezzo--soprano Laura Virella, with a sweet innocence that evolves into the fiery indignation of the rejected woman."
JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL, 2004
Washington Times
"All, especially the rich mezzo-soprano Laura Virella, are gifted singers."
ZWEITE DAME (ZAUBERFLÖTE), 2002
El Nuevo Día
"Virella could very well be singing at the Vienna Staatsoper."
CARMEN (TRAGÉDIE), 2002
Baltimore Sun
"Laura Virella's Carmen couldn't have been much more sensual without inviting a police raid."
VIVALDI GLORIA, 2001
El Nuevo Día
"Virella, at a very early age, already communicates with transparent sincerity, from her educated and privileged lower register, the fervor of this marvelous doxology text to the Trinity."