"Already after the first tacts it became clear to the audience that with Rebeka Bobanj, a real artist was on stage, one who was blessed with a wonderful voice – coloratura soprano, which has easiness and clear intonation, up to the highest heights of the “Queen of the Night”. Thanks to her enormous stage-presence and sense of the dramatic, the evening became an unforgettable adventure for everyone in attendance. But what about the highlights?
From the work of Giacomo Puccini, Rebeka Bobanj started with interpretations of three arias. From the opera „La Bohéme” she entertained with pieces from the role of the death-sick Mimi, who describes her miserable destiny and broken dreams to Rodolfo, the failed poet, with the aria "Si, mi chiamano Mimi" (My name is Mimi). Then the "Signore Ascolta" from the opera „Turandot” transported the audience to distant China. In this aria the slave, Liu admits her love, and later proves her readiness to die for her beau.
From the opera „Sister Angelica”, in the aria "Senza Mamma", finally a young woman, shamed with an unplanned child, is banished to a convent by her wealthy family, and begs for a sign of forgiveness for her impending suicide, which she later commits, after a relative informs her expressively and heartlessly, that her child had died two years earlier. This trio of arias are characteristic of Puccini’s melody line, which, especially in the farewell and death sections, features a melancholic fading tone. How finely Bobanj mastered all the three.
From Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” Bobanj performed the role of the Queen of the Night, who asks Prince Tamino in the aria "Zum Leiden bin ich auserkoren" to free her daughter, kidnapped by Sarastro and if he succeeds, she promise him the hand of her daughter. With the aria "É strano" from “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi, Bobanj finally crossed over from dramatic passion to the warm soulful impulses of a woman. However, besides her operatic pieces, we also enjoyed some songs of Franz Liszt and church music interpretations, which all highlighted her wide repertoire. Among these, first the song “Oh, quand je dors …” from the second volume of Franz Liszt’s song book (a melodic version of a Victor Hugo verse) should be highlighted. But Boban’s performance of the church anthem „Amazing Grace” revealed all the facets of her exceptional skills.
In the Korean pianist, Juhee Choi, the singer has found an ideal accompanist for her varied program. Above and beyond Ms. Choi’s soft play, the vocal performance of Bobanj is beautifully accentuated. We noticed this most agreeably during the so delicately subtle background playing for „Amazing Grace”. The audience gave the artists an ovation, the virtuosic performance universally cheered."
/ NACHRICHTEN - ODENWÄLDER /
'It was definitely a success...Rebeka Bobanj has a beautiful voice. Sen graduated at the age of 30 with excellent results. Then she was told to be a sensational talent, which she has proved in several performances since then.'
(Puccini: La bohéme, Debrecen Csokonai Színház, June, 2012; Családi Kör - Anna Friedrich)
'The opera singer Rebeka Bobanj born in Subotica was the first student of the SZTE Talent Point of the József Sóti Foundation for the Talents of Szeged, who won the Grand Prize of the advisory board as an artist. Th young singer has lived up to the expectations superbly.
(The journal 'Szeged', 2012, Mihály Arany)
'Rebeka Bobanj, the fresh graduate in opera singing from the University of Szeged, makes her debut in the role of Musette on January 6. The high talent, young coloratura soprano, who at the present lives in Germany, sings the role of Musette in two additional performances in partnership with Ilona Tokody.'
(Website of the Hungarian State Opera House, January 2012)
'A world talent - this is how Rebeka's tutor, Mária Temesi described her.'
(Délmagyar.hu)
'Rebeka, the Subotica-born, fresh graduate from the University of Szeged, made her debut as Musette on the stage of the Hungarian State Opera House on January 6, 2012. The audience will furthermore have the chance to watch and listen to the starlet of the Szeged University in Puccini's opera La Bohéme in the performances held on January 11 and 14. The young talent, who is the student of Mária Temesi, the head of the Vocal Studies Department of the Faculty of Music of the University of Szeged, will sing the same role in 8 additional performances throughout April in Debrecen.'
(VajdaságMA)
'Musette in Puccini's La Bohéme: Rebeka, the starlet of the Szeged University Rebeka sang beautifully and her debut at the Hungarian State Opera House, where she performed in partnership with Ilona Tokody, Csaba Szegedi and András Palerdi, was an enormous success' - remarked Mária Temesi, the head of the Vocal Studies Department of the Szeged University on the importance of her student's debut. The top talented, young coloratura soprano singer currently living in Germany will appear on stage in two additional performances on January 11 and 14, 2012, in the role of Musette, the slightly lewd, yet sensitive woman. In all three productions, Rebeka Bobanj sings Musette in partnership with Ilona Tokody - as can be read on the website of the Opera House.'
(University of Szeged)
'Blessed with a beautiful voice, Rebeka Bobanj is the first in the history of the Sófi Foundation to win its scholarship as a student of the Faculty of Music.'
(University of Szeged on the first prize of the Sófi Foundation)
'The Subotica-born student of Mária Temesi was already in 2009 awarded a special commendation that followed a special prize. In 2008, Rebeka won the third prize at the International Simándy Singing Competition. From then on, she has sung in more and more title roles, among others at the request of the Philharmonia Budapest Concert and Festival Agency. In 2008, Rebeka introduced herself at the Miskolc International Opera Festival in Korsakov's Sadko, in the role of Volhova. This was followed by the Cluj Opera Festival. After the Festival, she played Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Silviglia in at least 15 different parts of Hungary, among others at the Balaton Theatre in Keszthely and the Palace of Arts in Budapest. In 2010, she appeared on stage in Subotica, at the grand New Year Gala Concert. This year, Rebeka performed the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute in Budapest. The last time she sang on April 8, in the Palace of Arts at the Erkel-Liszt Memorial Concert in front of 1500 people in the Bartók National Concert Hall. With numerous concerts, appearances and title roles behind her, Rebeka finished the university with outstanding achievement, for which she was awarded the Scholarship of the Republic.'
(Szegedma.hu - Mihály Arany)
'Their names are not unfamiliar to the opera lovers, still, from the Hungarians, we must mention Karolina Ferenc (soprano), Olga Szabó (mezzo-soprano), Rebeka Bobanj (soprano) and Ágnes Kovács (soprano), all of whom we consider very talented.'
(Operaportál, April 2010)
'Rebeka Bobanj, the student from Serbia studying at Szeged, sang remarkably well, and she may be at the start of a big career. She, too, won the special prize.'
(Operaportál, May 2011)
'Ms Bobanj is a dramatic coloratura soprano of wonderful potential, a talent born for the opera stage, presented with an exquisite, warm voice and wide register. In her stage performances, Ms Bobanj brings forward a marvellous acting ability, being a thoughtful, disciplined interpreter with artistic humbleness. Her extraordinary diligence and motivation for profound research reflect that she is already thoroughly acquainted with her profession. Ms Bobanj's artistic and human approach, as well as her view of life speak of a promising career, making her the present, and undoubtedly the future pride of the cultural life of Szeged.'
(Prof. Dr. Mária Temesi - Recommendation, 2011)
'A witty staging and an outstanding ensemble performance made the piece really work with Rebeka Bobanj as the Princess.....especially notable.'
(Kulturissimo; Miskolc Opera Festival 2010)
'Glasses were clinging together while we enjoyed Rebeka Bobanj's coloratura soprano at the book presentation...'
(Hét Nap [Hungarian weekly paper in Vojvodina] - Olga Krekity)
'The role of Volhova was once more performed by two singers in turn. Rebeka Bobanj, who was the second on stage, was more convincing. Her lullaby was deeply heart-stirring with a reliable top register and genuine theatrical pathos.' (Revizor - András Csont)
From the work of Giacomo Puccini, Rebeka Bobanj started with interpretations of three arias. From the opera „La Bohéme” she entertained with pieces from the role of the death-sick Mimi, who describes her miserable destiny and broken dreams to Rodolfo, the failed poet, with the aria "Si, mi chiamano Mimi" (My name is Mimi). Then the "Signore Ascolta" from the opera „Turandot” transported the audience to distant China. In this aria the slave, Liu admits her love, and later proves her readiness to die for her beau.
From the opera „Sister Angelica”, in the aria "Senza Mamma", finally a young woman, shamed with an unplanned child, is banished to a convent by her wealthy family, and begs for a sign of forgiveness for her impending suicide, which she later commits, after a relative informs her expressively and heartlessly, that her child had died two years earlier. This trio of arias are characteristic of Puccini’s melody line, which, especially in the farewell and death sections, features a melancholic fading tone. How finely Bobanj mastered all the three.
From Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” Bobanj performed the role of the Queen of the Night, who asks Prince Tamino in the aria "Zum Leiden bin ich auserkoren" to free her daughter, kidnapped by Sarastro and if he succeeds, she promise him the hand of her daughter. With the aria "É strano" from “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi, Bobanj finally crossed over from dramatic passion to the warm soulful impulses of a woman. However, besides her operatic pieces, we also enjoyed some songs of Franz Liszt and church music interpretations, which all highlighted her wide repertoire. Among these, first the song “Oh, quand je dors …” from the second volume of Franz Liszt’s song book (a melodic version of a Victor Hugo verse) should be highlighted. But Boban’s performance of the church anthem „Amazing Grace” revealed all the facets of her exceptional skills.
In the Korean pianist, Juhee Choi, the singer has found an ideal accompanist for her varied program. Above and beyond Ms. Choi’s soft play, the vocal performance of Bobanj is beautifully accentuated. We noticed this most agreeably during the so delicately subtle background playing for „Amazing Grace”. The audience gave the artists an ovation, the virtuosic performance universally cheered."
/ NACHRICHTEN - ODENWÄLDER /
'It was definitely a success...Rebeka Bobanj has a beautiful voice. Sen graduated at the age of 30 with excellent results. Then she was told to be a sensational talent, which she has proved in several performances since then.'
(Puccini: La bohéme, Debrecen Csokonai Színház, June, 2012; Családi Kör - Anna Friedrich)
'The opera singer Rebeka Bobanj born in Subotica was the first student of the SZTE Talent Point of the József Sóti Foundation for the Talents of Szeged, who won the Grand Prize of the advisory board as an artist. Th young singer has lived up to the expectations superbly.
(The journal 'Szeged', 2012, Mihály Arany)
'Rebeka Bobanj, the fresh graduate in opera singing from the University of Szeged, makes her debut in the role of Musette on January 6. The high talent, young coloratura soprano, who at the present lives in Germany, sings the role of Musette in two additional performances in partnership with Ilona Tokody.'
(Website of the Hungarian State Opera House, January 2012)
'A world talent - this is how Rebeka's tutor, Mária Temesi described her.'
(Délmagyar.hu)
'Rebeka, the Subotica-born, fresh graduate from the University of Szeged, made her debut as Musette on the stage of the Hungarian State Opera House on January 6, 2012. The audience will furthermore have the chance to watch and listen to the starlet of the Szeged University in Puccini's opera La Bohéme in the performances held on January 11 and 14. The young talent, who is the student of Mária Temesi, the head of the Vocal Studies Department of the Faculty of Music of the University of Szeged, will sing the same role in 8 additional performances throughout April in Debrecen.'
(VajdaságMA)
'Musette in Puccini's La Bohéme: Rebeka, the starlet of the Szeged University Rebeka sang beautifully and her debut at the Hungarian State Opera House, where she performed in partnership with Ilona Tokody, Csaba Szegedi and András Palerdi, was an enormous success' - remarked Mária Temesi, the head of the Vocal Studies Department of the Szeged University on the importance of her student's debut. The top talented, young coloratura soprano singer currently living in Germany will appear on stage in two additional performances on January 11 and 14, 2012, in the role of Musette, the slightly lewd, yet sensitive woman. In all three productions, Rebeka Bobanj sings Musette in partnership with Ilona Tokody - as can be read on the website of the Opera House.'
(University of Szeged)
'Blessed with a beautiful voice, Rebeka Bobanj is the first in the history of the Sófi Foundation to win its scholarship as a student of the Faculty of Music.'
(University of Szeged on the first prize of the Sófi Foundation)
'The Subotica-born student of Mária Temesi was already in 2009 awarded a special commendation that followed a special prize. In 2008, Rebeka won the third prize at the International Simándy Singing Competition. From then on, she has sung in more and more title roles, among others at the request of the Philharmonia Budapest Concert and Festival Agency. In 2008, Rebeka introduced herself at the Miskolc International Opera Festival in Korsakov's Sadko, in the role of Volhova. This was followed by the Cluj Opera Festival. After the Festival, she played Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Silviglia in at least 15 different parts of Hungary, among others at the Balaton Theatre in Keszthely and the Palace of Arts in Budapest. In 2010, she appeared on stage in Subotica, at the grand New Year Gala Concert. This year, Rebeka performed the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute in Budapest. The last time she sang on April 8, in the Palace of Arts at the Erkel-Liszt Memorial Concert in front of 1500 people in the Bartók National Concert Hall. With numerous concerts, appearances and title roles behind her, Rebeka finished the university with outstanding achievement, for which she was awarded the Scholarship of the Republic.'
(Szegedma.hu - Mihály Arany)
'Their names are not unfamiliar to the opera lovers, still, from the Hungarians, we must mention Karolina Ferenc (soprano), Olga Szabó (mezzo-soprano), Rebeka Bobanj (soprano) and Ágnes Kovács (soprano), all of whom we consider very talented.'
(Operaportál, April 2010)
'Rebeka Bobanj, the student from Serbia studying at Szeged, sang remarkably well, and she may be at the start of a big career. She, too, won the special prize.'
(Operaportál, May 2011)
'Ms Bobanj is a dramatic coloratura soprano of wonderful potential, a talent born for the opera stage, presented with an exquisite, warm voice and wide register. In her stage performances, Ms Bobanj brings forward a marvellous acting ability, being a thoughtful, disciplined interpreter with artistic humbleness. Her extraordinary diligence and motivation for profound research reflect that she is already thoroughly acquainted with her profession. Ms Bobanj's artistic and human approach, as well as her view of life speak of a promising career, making her the present, and undoubtedly the future pride of the cultural life of Szeged.'
(Prof. Dr. Mária Temesi - Recommendation, 2011)
'A witty staging and an outstanding ensemble performance made the piece really work with Rebeka Bobanj as the Princess.....especially notable.'
(Kulturissimo; Miskolc Opera Festival 2010)
'Glasses were clinging together while we enjoyed Rebeka Bobanj's coloratura soprano at the book presentation...'
(Hét Nap [Hungarian weekly paper in Vojvodina] - Olga Krekity)
'The role of Volhova was once more performed by two singers in turn. Rebeka Bobanj, who was the second on stage, was more convincing. Her lullaby was deeply heart-stirring with a reliable top register and genuine theatrical pathos.' (Revizor - András Csont)
