Reviews

'Opera Maine assembled a first-rate cast and orchestra to project the Wagnerian sense of dark romance into the far reaches of a well-populated Merrill on opening night....and Sahoko Sato Timpone (as Senta’s concerned companion), rounded out the main cast, adding their vocal talents to the touches of melodrama that occasionally drew chuckles from the crowd.'

'In a night of such stellar singing, it is difficult to pick out a single performance as “the one,”.... Mary, the excellent Sahoko Sato Timpone...'

'...a strong cast projected the eerie power of Wagner’s characters vividly. ....Sahoko Sato Timpone’s mezzo-soprano seemed texturally light for Mary, but she held the spinning room scene together ably.'

The soloists were outstanding as well in their significant contributions. ...Mezzo Sahoko Sato Timpone had an extensive role which she delivered with marvelous richness and sensitivity. Her duet with Ms. Lamp in the Recordare was a musical high point. ...This group was the most professionally satisfying quartet of soloists that this reviewer has heard in a Music Worcester presentation.

...Sahoko Sato Timpone plays older neighbor Martha, excellent in the garden scene quartet

In terms of casting it is hard to imagine better: Both Mr Allen and Miss Sato Timpone are in peak form, on “Ra Dances With Rams” and “Mistress Prayer” respectively, where they are heard in great voice.

Sahoko Sato (Timpone), in the role of Sun Yi Nam gave a superb performance of a nit-picking middle aged woman which invited lots of laughs

Sahoko Sato Timpone’s rich, glowing mezzo similarly shone forth without seeming effort, and she, too, shaped her phrases with elegance and expression.

...the voice that, in two brief lines, made me sit up and take notice and wish to hear more belonged to Sahoko Sato Timpone

...there were strong contributions from singers in smaller roles, among them Kenneth Kellogg (Zuniga), Jorelle Williams (Moralès), Maeve Höglund (Frasquita) and Sahoko Sato (Mercédès).

The appealing foursome of gypsies and smugglers was led by the bright soprano of Maeve Hoagland as Frasquita, and featured strong ensemble singing by Sahoko Sato, Robert Mellon and Lucas Levy. The sparkling Act II quintet was notable for its clarity as Lord held singers and orchestra to a lively pace.

Among the impressive young cast members are Emma Grimsley as the sullen Barbara; Sahoko Sato Timpone as Ms. Soon-Yi-Nam, an assertive factory owner and Susana’s former employer (Mozart’s Marcellina); and Ethan Herschenfeld as Babayan, an Armenian mafioso (Mozart’s Bartolo.)

Sahoko Sato Timpone gleefully embraces The Dragon Lady stereotype for her mirthfully steely characterization as Ms. Soon-Yi Nam.

...soon they are being threatened by sweatshop owner Ms. Soon-Yi Nam (the hilarious Sahoko Sato Timpone) and her thug ally Babayan (Ethan Herschenfeld)

The Princess who tears it all apart was played by Sahoko Sato, and when she entered, her appearance and voice were the definition of elegance. Her gleaming mezzo fit the role of the princess very nicely.

...together with Japanese mezzo-soprano, Sahoko Sato—turns the operatic "A Time to Say Goodbye" into a thrilling encounter between the human voice and Zollar's Miley one on trumpet.

...adds the page Cherubino (saucy mezzo-soprano Sahoko Sato in a great turn), who unwittingly and repeatedly upsets plans to expose the Count's duplicity.

And Sahoko Sato, a mezzo-soprano, made Fidalma a sympathetic character despite her foolish crush on a younger man.