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Acclaim

"A voice that makes you believe in God," I heard one person near me commenting...Battle's
voice soared and she held the crowd in utter silence...she particularly shone in a set of Rachmaninov songs...Her set of spirituals was equally impressive..."

 —Steven Mazy, Ottawa Citizen(July 2010) (Full Review)

"There's just something magical about that sweet sound...[she] spun out compelling phrases all night, sometimes with jazzy inflections that had terrific spontaneity and naturalness, sometimes with a disarming, Schubertian gentleness...– the full emotional depth and melodic appeal of Spirituals came through with affecting grace " (Full Review)

 —Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun (May 2010)

"Kathleen Battle...still has it. The voice remains a wonder. The bearing remains royal. The music making remains meticulous...Battle sang songs by Schubert, Liszt and Rachmaninoff – Exquisitely....[The recital ended] with three spirituals...which displayed Battle's special talent with this repertoire, a balance of magic and precision, tone and feeling. " (Full Review)

—Timothy Mangan, The Orange County Register (February 2010)

"Battle's singing [was] stunning…Opening with the only two classical offerings of the evening, Battle sang [the pieces] with stunning clarity and precision…Launching into spirituals and gospel songs, [she hit] high notes that shimmered throughout the hall."

—Carol Furtwangler, Post and Courier (December 2009)

“The magic of Battle's high range has never been entirely about the the altitude of the notes...but about the ease, finesse and grace with which she handles them. [Her] ability to shape a phrase is unparalleled; she puts lyrics and their meaning at center stage... [transcending] the language of the lyrics..." (Full Review)

—Elaine Schmidt, Journal Sentinal (March 2008)

“As deeply moving as [spirituals] inherently are, [with] Kathleen Battle... they are 'born again.' Soulful, impassioned, unhurried, with every nuance explored they become deeply, stunningly beautiful — a metaphorical trip to heaven, in fact...So well were these received that this gracious and generous artist returned again and again to perform more of the same..."
—The Royal Gazette (Bermudian Newspaper), (October 2006)

“Her voice has rarely sounded better, whether she is singing Strauss, spirituals, or Stevie Wonder. Her unwavering musicianship, combined with her natural vocal beauty, were thrilling… exhilarating.”
—Michael Huebner, The Birmingham News (April 2006)

“She sang André Previn's song cycle Honey & Rue...with evocative text by [Nobel Prize winning author] Toni Morrison written expressly for [her]...She is singing as well as ever, maybe better...The notes still seem to hover in the air as if propped up by clouds, glistening like sunlight.”
—Mark Stryker, Detroit Free Press (March 2006)