Press Acclaim
BERKSHIRE OPERA COMPANY
“The singing was highlighted by the flawless and instinctive artistry of Soprano Sari Gruber...”
— Union News
2015
SCHUBERT/BEATLES – New York Festival of Song
"Sensational soprano Sari Gruber performed Schubert's 'Im Fruhling'..."
– Meche Kroop, Voce di Meche
COSI FAN TUTTE (Fiordiligi) – Florida Grand Opera
"...the especially fine soprano Sari Gruber as Fiordiligi..."
– Bill Hirschmann, Florida Theater On Stage
"Soprano Sari Gruber was Fiordiligi, and she brought to the role a good, strong voice...she was believable as a woman trying to remain true to herself and learning something else in the process...Gruber's voice sounded lovely with that of her stage sister..."
– Greg Stepanich, Palm Beach Arts Paper
"Ms. Gruber...convey[ed] elegance and humor, while handling Fiordiligi's daunting vocal challenges with high intelligence and artistry."
– Robert Croan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
COSI FAN TUTTE (Despina) – Pittsburgh Opera
"Sari Gruber brought just the right spirit to Despina..."
– Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Tribune
"Sari Gruber, as Despina, was a standout. She sang the same role when Cosi fan tutte was last heard here in 2006, but last night she wasn't one month away from giving birth, as she was on the former occasion. It can only be hoped that her young daughter was in the audience or behind the scenes to enjoy her mother's excellent singing and comic antics. She was delightful throughout, and her physical and vocal 'disguise' as the marriage notary made it difficult for the audience not to laugh to the point of drowning out the music."
– George Parous, Pittsburgh in the Round
"As Despina, Sari Gruber gave amusing takes on the maid's disguises..." "
– Elizabeth Bloom, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2014
MAHLER SYMPHONY #2 (Soprano Soloist) – Omaha Symphony
"...tantalizingly expressive... "
– Todd Van Kampen, Omaha World-Herald
LA BOHEME (Musetta) – Pittsburgh Opera
"...talented soprano Sari Gruber, returning after memorable past Pittsburgh Opera stints as Mozart's Zerlina, Susanna, and Despina."
– Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Tribune
DIE ZAUBERFLOTE (Pamina) – Opera Tampa
“Sari Gruber gave a transparent and emotionally effective performance of Princess Pamina, expecially in the scene where she contemplates suicide..."
– Tampa Bay Times
2012
THE PEARL FISHERS (Leila) - Hawaii Opera Theatre
"Leila belonged to Nadir the moment soprano Sari Gruber started singing, her power and clarity an obvious match with the tenor's."
– Ruth Bingham, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
2011
KNOXVILLE: SUMMER OF 1915 – Oklahoma City Philharmonic
"In her philharmonic debut, Gruber cast an enchanting spell with 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915,' Barber's setting of a text by James Agee. This child's view of a lazy summer night showed Gruber to be a thoughtful and elegant soprano capable of a wide emotional range. Gruber conveyed the work's languorous mood through subtle shadings from her multihued vocal palette, then used her clear, focused soprano to project easily through Barber's denser textures. It was a performance, to paraphrase Agee's text, that enchanted the eardrums."
– Rich Rogers, The Oklahoman
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO – Pittsburgh Opera
Named #6 Best Performance of 2010 by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette!
“Bass Oren Gradus and soprano Sari Gruber, as Figaro and Susanna, meshed so well in Mozart's 'Marriage of Figaro' that at times one forgot it was an opera."
– Andrew Druckenbrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2010
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO – Pittsburgh Opera
“Sari Gruber’s sharp-witted, keenly articulated Susanna was a perfect foil for Armstrong’s Countess, and the two blended exquisitely in the letter duet, each maintaining an individual vocal color. Gruber lived the character in every movement and inflection, reacting to those around her and dominating the ensembles. When she finally had her solo turn in ‘Deh vieni, non tardar,’ she held focus with her natural phrasing, controlled legato and even scale.”
– Robert Croan, Opera News
“Sari Gruber was the appealing Susanna, a role which is defined by its interactions with other characters. Her voice was clear, attractive and always artfully employed… Armstrong and Gruber sang beautifully together in the letter duet.”
– Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
LA BOHÉME – Opera Colorado
“…soprano Sari Gruber lit up the stage with her sure-voiced, spirited and suitably saucy portrayal of Musetta.”
– Kyle MacMillan, Denver Post
SONGS OF LORI LAITMAN – CD Review
"Soprano Sari Gruber deserves special praise for her luminous singing, and especially for the crystalline clarity of her diction even when singing some of Laitman's most adventurous melodies."
–Journal of Singing
2009
DON GIOVANNI – Arizona Opera
“Sari Gruber gave bright and lively performances as Zerlina, with very polished and musical vocalism; as ‘Batti, batti’ is the only successful seduction in the piece…it was fitting that she delivered some of the production’s most seductive singing.”
– Opera
“Gruber, who portrayed Zerlina as seductively naïve, sang with a stunning soprano that several times verged on show-stopping great…”
– Arizona Daily Star
LA BOHEME – Austin Lyric Opera
“As the opera’s power couple, Musetta and Marcello, Sari Gruber and Craig Verm were tremendous throughout. The role of Musetta, the opera’s spitfire, calls for much more than your typical diva histrionics. Musetta is as much a bohemian as Rodolfo or Marcello but must straddle the competing landscapes of kept woman and bohemian muse (where her true character thrives). Gruber nailed this dichotomy, bring comedic grace and vulnerability to the role, as well as glorious vocal talent.”
– Austin Chronicle
“…and the Act II Café scene bustles with wit and excitement. That’s where soprano Sari Gruber, as the spoiled party girl Musetta, makes her appearance – and steals the show. Paris Hilton wishes she could command such attention when she opens her mouth!”
– The Insider
2008
“BERNSTEIN & BOLCOM CELEBRATION” – New York Festival of Song
“The heart of the Bernstein segment was a group of songs from "Wonderful Town."… the tenor with Sari Gruber, the soprano, [gave] a comic but sharply focused reading of ‘Ohio.’ Ms. Gruber also moved easily between the comic spoken sections and the more deeply felt verses in her elegant performance of ‘The Story of My Life.’… The most effective pieces were calling cards for two of Bolcom’s operas. From ‘McTeague,’…Ms. Gruber brought a mad eroticism to ‘Golden Babies.’”
– New York Times
THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN - Chautauqua Opera
"But the whole show was cast from strength, starting with Sari Gruber as 'Sharp Ears, the Vixen.' My past several happy experiences with this wonderful soprano were now joined by this vibrant portrayal which featured a cleanly focused sound, ever secure musicality, and a thorough understanding of the role's dramatic journey....This was a performance that would be welcome on any world stage."
– James Sohre, Opera Today
"Sari Gruber was bold and vocally impressive as the vixen."
-- Robert W. Plyler, Chautauqua Post-Journal