WHAT THEY WRITE ABOUT ME
Words from national and international critics
Maria Teresa Leva: The first sun is mine
INTERVIEW
"I am particularly happy that this appointment comes precisely with Mimì, a character I have sung so much and whom I have had time to mature over the years. The bond I have with her is so deep that, on the occasion of my debut in the role, I decided to tattoo one of her phrases on my right wrist: 'The first sun is mine'."
OPERATEATRO
Verdi's Otello delights the Liège audience
OPÉRA ROYAL DE WALLONIE, LIÈGE, JUNE 2026
«An oasis of sweetness this evening is the voice of Maria Teresa Leva as Desdemona. Her Ave Maria in the third act, crowned by a pianissimo of extraordinary beauty, moves the audience deeply, so much so that several seconds pass before the well-deserved applause breaks out. But also in the Willow Song, as well as in the initial love duet with Otello, one can appreciate the enchanting and delicate sound of her soprano. In the duet with Otello at the beginning of the third movement, she also demonstrates that she knows how to bring out more dramatic tones from her voice.»
Klassik begeistert
OTELLO | Opéra de Liège
OPÉRA ROYAL DE WALLONIE, LIÈGE, JUNE 2026
«Maria Teresa Leva’s Desdemona was one of the most pleasant surprises of the evening.
The role suits her voice extraordinarily well. Her singing is characterized by a natural elegance, combined with a fragility that beautifully enhances the character. Throughout the performance, she conveyed sincerity and emotional honesty, qualities essential for a convincing Desdemona.
The Willow Song and the Ave Maria were performed with simplicity and sobriety, letting the music itself convey the emotion.
It is easy to imagine that this role will become an important part of her repertoire in the years to come.»
opera diary
A new and bold set design.
sydney opera house, january 2026
"Maria Teresa Leva, in the role of Liu, was extraordinary, demonstrating breathtaking control and a beautifully layered sonority, especially at the beginning of the show."
Turandot as a psychological landscape in Ann Yee's production for Opera Australia
Sydney Opera House, January 2026
«During her first visit to Australia, the Italian soprano Maria Teresa Leva also impressed in the role of Liù, proving to be a moving performer; her “Signore, ascolta” was exquisite, with the final high notes of crystalline and impeccable purity. »
Maria Teresa Leva debuts in the role
Teatro Comunale Pavarotti Freni, November 2025
"Maria Teresa Leva, debuting as Tosca, did not disappoint expectations, considering the difficulty of the role and the presence in the audience of the great Raina Kabaivanska, one of the definitive interpreters of this role. The soprano displays an interesting timbre, uniform across all registers, emitted with confidence and good diction. The high notes are soaring and sharp (the finale was beautiful), and the pianissimos are of great class, as in 'Vissi d'arte,' performed with great intensity. On stage, she is completely at ease; hers is a passionate and combative Tosca at the same time."
Modena - Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni: Tosca
Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni, November 2025
"In the title role, Maria Teresa Leva offers a remarkably solid debut. Her voice, well-projected, tonally generous, and homogeneous throughout the range, stands out for its ability to combine dramatic momentum with technical control. The high notes, incisive and bright, naturally support the most difficult phrases; equally noteworthy are the pianissimos, supported by steady breath and a line that maintains elegance even in moments of maximum emotional intensity. Her 'Vissi d'arte,' phrased with restraint and devoid of easy emphasis, emerges as an interpretive peak: not a shouted lament, but a sorrowful question that surfaces almost in backlight, revealing the character's human fragility. Scenically, Leva portrays a passionate, combative Tosca, capable of oscillating naturally between impulsiveness and inner torment, even if in the second act some gestures could have found a more intimate and nuanced articulation."