PRESS
"...soprano Danielle Pastin’s Micaela, the soldier's sweetheart, delivered a stunning third-act aria, full of fierce longing and adoration, a beautiful reminder of why she remains a favorite in the Pittsburgh scene..."
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette (2022)
"Soprano Danielle Pastin did a superb job capturing the conflicting emotions of Donna Elvira..."
- South Florida Classical Review (2019)
"Soprano Danielle Pastin stood out as a glamourous Donna Elvira, with a glowing voice and commanding presence. Pastin brought to life a strong woman in pursuit of justice, warning others of the Don’s abusive past, yet discredited and dismissed as “mad” by the very man whose violence and lies she seeks to avenge. During the famous quartet, Don Giovanni pinned her against the wall while Donna Anna and Don Ottavio, seemingly oblivious to the assault unfolding in front of them, wondered out loud, “Who should we believe?” "
- Schmopera.com (2019)
"Danielle Pastin, with her creamy, luscious vocal color, was born to sing the Countess. Her opening solo was a lesson in legato singing, while her delivery of the great "Dove sono" combined technical prowess with consummate communication of this abused woman's emotional quandary. "
- The Pittsburgh Post Gazette (2018)
"Soprano Danielle Pastin (Leila) was jaw dropping: her musical sensitivity was mature and focused; her command of vocal inflection a tour de force of coloratura gymnastics. Every aria presented a delicately crafted jewel, executed with a taste which never allowed her virtuosity to outshine her dramatic characterization."
- The Blade (2017)
"Danielle Pastin (Liu) displayed a thrilling and lyrical soprano that was rock solid throughout her range and dynamically dynamite, delivering the work's most poignant moments with sincerity and theatrical finesse."
- The Virginia Gazette (2017)
"her voice was amazingly supple with a purity that reflected her character’s naiveté”
- Nashville Arts
“opulent broader tones and warm presence”
- Palm Beach Daily News (2015)
“plush, evenly produced timbre”
- Opera News (2015)
“ravishingly beautiful sounds complete with exquisitely executed trills”
- The Capital (2012)
“stunning lyrical beauty and tone”
- The Post-Standard (2011)
“lustrous, luscious timbre”
- Opera News (2010)
“melting, seductive timbre”
- Opera News (2010)
“she interprets her narration with an ear for color”
- Opera News (2010)
“opulent timbre and shimmering high notes”
- Opera News (2009)
“lovely demeanor and irresistible creamy timbre”
- Opera News (2008)
June 21, 2020
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A global pandemic, lost rings, closed wedding venues and more – it may have forced some couples to give up on their wedding plans, but not Danielle Pastin and Andy Kirtland.
They are beginning their life together on a high note. She’s an opera singer. He’s a theater director. They had planned to wed at the end of May, but the pandemic forced them to change plans and they say it took a lot to finally get to their big day.
“Since we figured out that we had to cancel the original wedding date and plans and everything, every single step has gone hysterically wrong,” Pastin said.
“And it got to the point where there is no Plan A [or] Plan B, there’s just what are we doing today,” Kirtland added.
The couple went with a lemon theme for their wedding, with the two wearing outfits with lemon print. They say they went with that theme because it embodied the struggles they faced along the way and how they overcame those problems.
Their wedding motto? “When life hands you lemons, make limoncello.”
Great Minds Lecture Series To present ‘Madama Butterfly: The Suicide That Stays News’.
October 15, 2019
The Great Minds Lecture Series is set to present a talk on Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.”
The lecture will present excerpts from “Madama Butterfly” and a discussion about the power of art and the ways in which it influences our social and political views.
The discussion will feature key arias performed by soprano Danielle Pastin, Monika Krajevska, Mark Womach, and Francesco Pavesi. Pianist Jenny Rroji will accompany the artists and a special feature of Jun Kaneko’s brilliant stage and costume design work for “Madama Butterfly” will be on display during the presentation.
The performances will be followed by a discussion panel that includes Bette Talvacchia, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Art History at the University of Connecticut.
The event will take place on Nov. 6, 2019, at KANEKO in Omaha.
February 22, 2019
Opera Soprano Danielle Pastin Sings Pittsburgh's Praises!
May 01, 2018
“Pittsburgh just felt like home,” said Danielle Pastin, opera soprano. Ms. Pastin has lived a nomadic life and performed all across the country including at the famed Metropolitan Opera, but she developed an affinity for Pittsburgh. “My father was a Navy band leader, and we moved around probably every two years. But my parents were born here, and my grandparents lived in McKees Rocks. We visited here a lot, and I have tons of family in the area, which made deciding to live here easy.”
Virginia Opera’s 2018-19 Season To Feature Cecilia Violetta Lopez, Zachary James & Danielle Pastin
April 20, 2019
The Virginian-Pilot
March 14, 2017
The Virginian-Pilot
In the Virginia Opera production of “Turandot,” Virginia Beach native Danielle Pastin plays Liu, a woman with a secret, unrequited love who is tortured but won’t betray the man. Liu kills herself with a dagger rather than risk more torture and the possibility of betraying her prince.
