Lisa van der Ploeg



	Carmen at Merola: Photo by Bob Shomler

“…young, absolutely cruelly willful and sexy Carmencita in the person of Lisa van der Ploeg, who seems destined for the role… (Carmen’s) implacable nature is caught by van der Ploeg, who is as frisky, energetic and volatile as one could wish. She has a very fine, very penetrating soprano and, all in all, it is her acting and singing that makes this touring Carmen a very satisfying, compelling production.”
-- Daphne Kraft, Herald and News.

“van der Ploeg was an uncommonly alluring Carmen…combining fire and ice…she was also capable of achieving plush and velvety vocal textures as in the celebrated chromaticism of the “Habanera.”
-- Valeria Scher, San Diego Union Tribune.

Lisa Vander Ploeg's lustrous, ringing tones made her an excellent Fenena
--Opera Japonica

Lisa van der Ploeg's ringing voice was heard to great advantage in the role of Fenena; one could only have wished Verdi had written more for her and UFO newcomer Nicholas Coppolo, a tenor…. This is a must-hear cast.
--Cindy Dewey, The Herald Journal.

	Nabucco at the Utah Festival Opera: with Nicholas Coppolo as Ismaele Photo by Ken Howard




Madama Butterflyat Utah Festival Opera: with Allison Charney as Cio-Cio-San Photo by Ken Howard

Besides the strong performance by Charney -- who truly does endear the audience to her plight through her soft, yet penetrating voice -- Lisa van der Ploeg is also very strong as Suzuki. Both Charney and van der Ploeg have the ability to be at ease and strong of voice in an almost effortless manner. Both were standouts and appreciated by the audience.
--Jay Wamsley, The Utah Statesman.

Van der Ploeg is a formidable presence onstage. With vocal clarity and strength, she matched well with Charney
--Robert Coleman, Salt Lake Tribune

“Highest praise must be reserved for Lisa van der Ploeg, with her strikingly characterful and vocally rich portrayal of the maid, Maria. Boasting a huge, warm, round voice, van der Ploeg filled the stage with her presence whenever she appeared.” -- NUVO Newsweekly of Indianapolis.

“Madam Flora, a charlatan medium, sung by Lisa van der Ploeg (an electrifying actress with a warm, dusky contralto), tricks her clients into believing they are communicating with their dead children.” -- Julia Hawkins, Northern California Bohemian.

“The other mezzo in the cast, Lisa van der Ploeg contrasted strikingly with a rich warm tone and molten legato. She captured a delightful sense of irony as Ottone, arguably the only character in the opera with a redeeming virtue or two.” -- Kelly Snyder, Le Concertographe.

“And, finally, there was mezzo-soprano Lisa van der Ploeg to add a voice of substance when Mahler’s symphony, during its fourth movement, turned to lines from Friedrich Nietsche’s Thus Spake Zarathustra. Let me say that from her opening “O Mensch! O Mensch!...in sorrowful comtemplation to a much brighter conclusion…vander Ploeg appeared not only in full vocal control but immersed.” -- Peter Jacobi, The Herald-Times.

“Mother Abbess, played by Lisa van der Ploeg, has us in the palm of her hand when (she) exhorts Maria to climb every mountain with her rich voice.” –- Jay Wamsley, The Statesman.

“With the ardent help of mezzo-soprano Lisa van der Ploeg, who sang and narrated from the stage boxes, Leppard and the orchestra brought the evening to a radiant close with the complete Falla Ballet, The Three-Cornered Hat. In her debut van der Ploeg revealed a rich mezzo sound in the two little songs…. -- Charles Staff, The Indianapolis Star.