Reviews
As the featured soloist in Mr. Tambourine Man with Voices of Change
"Soprano Alissa Roca was incandescent from her first appearance to the sumptuous and emotional ending. Throughout, she demonstrated not only superb vocal artistry but also a dramatic flair that gave the cycle shape and consistency."
"[in] “Clothes Line” ...Ms. Roca’s storytelling skills were exquisitely displayed. Her performance of “Blowin’ In the Wind” carried this most iconic lyric into a new world of discovery, ranging from pensive through grave to a sense of urgent self-awareness as each passage of the wind brought new knowledge. In the final haunting portion, the human voice is disembodied and transformed into a part of the musical consort depicting the wind of change and knowledge."
"“Masters of War” and “All Along the Watchtower,” two of Dylan’s most strident protest songs, were treated to hyper-dramatic and affecting interpretations by Ms. Roca, the first an unrelenting song of bitterness which she spat our with frightening vehemence, the second a mix of desperation then manic calmness finally setting into a placid but unresolved wariness." - Keith Mankin, TheaterJones, October 2019
As a principal artist in From London to Baltimore: A Salute to Gilbert & Sullivan
"Alissa Roca sang "Poor Wondering One" from PIRATES OF PENZANCE. She was astonishing." - Charles Shubow, Broadway World, July 2019
As the featured soloist in Dances from the Heart with Bruce Wood Dance
"...[first,] some dreamy excerpts from Echoes of Enchantment. Warm and inviting, it featured all [six] instruments, sounding like a much larger ensemble as their notes and Roca’s voice melded beautifully with the six dancers."
"Roca lifted the mood with an astonishing rendition of “Sempre Libera” from Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, flirting with the audience in a shimmering red dress."
"The best vocal moment by far goes to Roca’s soaring delivery of the popular Puccini aria “O mio babbino caro.” Many moments in the evening likely brought viewers to tears, this one especially." - Cheryl Callon, TheaterJones, February 2019
As Priscilla in The True (not exactly true) Story of Thanksgiving
"Soprano Alissa Roca’s Priscilla is neat and charming, with a sweet and angled instrument that rings brightly above the rest." - Richard Oliver, TheaterJones, November 2018
As Yum-Yum in The Mikado
"Soprano Alissa Roca is downright delicious as Yum-Yum, imbuing the character’s cold-blooded vanity with a disarming warmth" - Bill Kamberger, DC Metro Theater Arts, July 2018
As a featured soloist in Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream
"Soprano soloist...Alissa Roca shimmered and glowed." - J. Robin Coffelt, Texas Classical Review, May 2017
As Tytania in A Midsummer Night's Dream
"Alissa Roca’s light soprano soared through Tytania’s coloratura flourishes and melodic flights..." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, October 2013
"Alissa Roca’s ethereal coloratura encompassed the vocal stratosphere with ease..." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, November 2013
As Akala in Entanglements
Alissa was praised for her "finely pointed vocalism." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, April 2013
As a featured soloist in Bach's Christmas Oratorio
"A duet blended Alissa Roca’s high, pure soprano and Carl DuPont’s strong, voluminous bass-baritone to mellifluous effect." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, November 2012
As Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro
"Alissa Roca was a delightful Barbarina, bringing unusual sweetness to her brief aria that sets up the final scene." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, April 2012
As the title role in Patience
"There is never a missed note with Alissa Roca, the very talented actress who plays Patience..." - Laurel Elliott, DC Theater Scene, July 2011
"Sweet voiced Alissa Roca plays the title character – the lass who can’t say “Yes” unless it would pain her to do so. Her singing is quite stunning as she makes a challenging vocal role seem effortless." - Gary McMillan, Maryland Theatre Guide, July 2011
As Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore
"From the moment she sang “I’m called Little Buttercup” to her plot-revealing “A many years ago”, Alissa Roca captivated the audience with her gorgeous voice and her tough but charming personality as (you guessed it) the vendor Buttercup." - Joel Markowitz, DC Theater Scene, July 2010
"From the moment she introduced the audience to her character and sang “I’m Called Little Buttercup”, I knew that Alissa Roca was one tough cookie and an amazing singer. When Alissa performed “A Many Years Ago” at the end of the second act you could hear a pin drop in the house. With her beautiful and emotional contralto and perfect diction, we understood every word as she helped us figure out what the heck was happening during this crazy comic opera. When she sang it – you could see how much Alissa loved singing her role, and it was infectious!" - Joel Markowitz, DC Theater Scene, July 2010
"Soprano Alissa Roca was incandescent from her first appearance to the sumptuous and emotional ending. Throughout, she demonstrated not only superb vocal artistry but also a dramatic flair that gave the cycle shape and consistency."
"[in] “Clothes Line” ...Ms. Roca’s storytelling skills were exquisitely displayed. Her performance of “Blowin’ In the Wind” carried this most iconic lyric into a new world of discovery, ranging from pensive through grave to a sense of urgent self-awareness as each passage of the wind brought new knowledge. In the final haunting portion, the human voice is disembodied and transformed into a part of the musical consort depicting the wind of change and knowledge."
"“Masters of War” and “All Along the Watchtower,” two of Dylan’s most strident protest songs, were treated to hyper-dramatic and affecting interpretations by Ms. Roca, the first an unrelenting song of bitterness which she spat our with frightening vehemence, the second a mix of desperation then manic calmness finally setting into a placid but unresolved wariness." - Keith Mankin, TheaterJones, October 2019
As a principal artist in From London to Baltimore: A Salute to Gilbert & Sullivan
"Alissa Roca sang "Poor Wondering One" from PIRATES OF PENZANCE. She was astonishing." - Charles Shubow, Broadway World, July 2019
As the featured soloist in Dances from the Heart with Bruce Wood Dance
"...[first,] some dreamy excerpts from Echoes of Enchantment. Warm and inviting, it featured all [six] instruments, sounding like a much larger ensemble as their notes and Roca’s voice melded beautifully with the six dancers."
"Roca lifted the mood with an astonishing rendition of “Sempre Libera” from Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, flirting with the audience in a shimmering red dress."
"The best vocal moment by far goes to Roca’s soaring delivery of the popular Puccini aria “O mio babbino caro.” Many moments in the evening likely brought viewers to tears, this one especially." - Cheryl Callon, TheaterJones, February 2019
As Priscilla in The True (not exactly true) Story of Thanksgiving
"Soprano Alissa Roca’s Priscilla is neat and charming, with a sweet and angled instrument that rings brightly above the rest." - Richard Oliver, TheaterJones, November 2018
As Yum-Yum in The Mikado
"Soprano Alissa Roca is downright delicious as Yum-Yum, imbuing the character’s cold-blooded vanity with a disarming warmth" - Bill Kamberger, DC Metro Theater Arts, July 2018
As a featured soloist in Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream
"Soprano soloist...Alissa Roca shimmered and glowed." - J. Robin Coffelt, Texas Classical Review, May 2017
As Tytania in A Midsummer Night's Dream
"Alissa Roca’s light soprano soared through Tytania’s coloratura flourishes and melodic flights..." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, October 2013
"Alissa Roca’s ethereal coloratura encompassed the vocal stratosphere with ease..." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, November 2013
As Akala in Entanglements
Alissa was praised for her "finely pointed vocalism." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, April 2013
As a featured soloist in Bach's Christmas Oratorio
"A duet blended Alissa Roca’s high, pure soprano and Carl DuPont’s strong, voluminous bass-baritone to mellifluous effect." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, November 2012
As Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro
"Alissa Roca was a delightful Barbarina, bringing unusual sweetness to her brief aria that sets up the final scene." - Lawrence Budmen, South Florida Classical Review, April 2012
As the title role in Patience
"There is never a missed note with Alissa Roca, the very talented actress who plays Patience..." - Laurel Elliott, DC Theater Scene, July 2011
"Sweet voiced Alissa Roca plays the title character – the lass who can’t say “Yes” unless it would pain her to do so. Her singing is quite stunning as she makes a challenging vocal role seem effortless." - Gary McMillan, Maryland Theatre Guide, July 2011
As Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore
"From the moment she sang “I’m called Little Buttercup” to her plot-revealing “A many years ago”, Alissa Roca captivated the audience with her gorgeous voice and her tough but charming personality as (you guessed it) the vendor Buttercup." - Joel Markowitz, DC Theater Scene, July 2010
"From the moment she introduced the audience to her character and sang “I’m Called Little Buttercup”, I knew that Alissa Roca was one tough cookie and an amazing singer. When Alissa performed “A Many Years Ago” at the end of the second act you could hear a pin drop in the house. With her beautiful and emotional contralto and perfect diction, we understood every word as she helped us figure out what the heck was happening during this crazy comic opera. When she sang it – you could see how much Alissa loved singing her role, and it was infectious!" - Joel Markowitz, DC Theater Scene, July 2010
