Sonya Yoncheva Triumphs in Metropolitan Opera Debut as Medea

Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva has made a triumphant debut as Medea at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, earning praise from critics and audiences alike. The performance, which opened this week, marks her 13th lead role at the prestigious house and brings her close to her 100th appearance there—a record for a Bulgarian artist. She is scheduled to appear in six performances of the opera.

The production, sung in Italian, is a revival of the classic Cherubini opera. Yoncheva first performed the role in 2020 at the Berlin State Opera in the original French version. Critics were unanimous in their acclaim. David Salazar of Operawire wrote that “there is no more captivating artist on the Met stage right now than Sonya Yoncheva,” while Jay Nordlinger of The New Criterion declared that “she was born for the role of Medea.”

Many reviewers drew comparisons to the legendary Maria Callas, who made the role famous. Susan Stempleski of Bachtrack noted Yoncheva’s “huge vocal power and extraordinary dramatic presence,” and Richard Sasanow of Broadway World said her performance was “so powerful, so moving and so compelling that it is hard to find words.” Rick Perdian of New York Classical Review praised her dramatic intensity, achieved through fine details rather than external theatricality.

Yoncheva’s Met debut as Medea is part of a busy season. She will make her stage debut in Manon Lescaut at the Zurich Opera and appear in an opera gala at Teatro San Carlo in Naples with Plácido Domingo. The culmination of her artistic year will be a personal project, “One Light,” a Christmas gala in Sofia on 20 December, bringing together 300 artists on stage.