“Värelä shows her strength with powerful, almost demonic tones that can also shimmer with seduction and menace. She is completely convincing in both sound and stage presence.”

“Miina-Liisa Varela, a very convincing Isolde. Her voice effortlessly filled the difficult acoustics of De Doelen. She also moved most convincingly through the staged play of light on stage, with a single look she was able to evoke an entire atmosphere”

“Miina-Liisa Värelä as Isolde was pearly-voiced and intimate in a way one rarely hears in this role.”

“Her portrayal of the Dyer’s Wife with a soprano voice full of warmth and empathy is a pleasant addition to the young human woman who is often characterized as nagging — and so misunderstood. Värelä managed to put all the emotions of disgust and despair, but ultimately also love and affection, into the beautiful sound of her voice.”

“Sensual, haughty and above all very sensitive, the Finnish soprano asserts her character. In full vocal deployment, the generosity and vibrato of the singer are coated in an almost velvety liquid.”

“Värelä is a bulwark of strength as Leonore, possessing an incandescent voice that vibrantly enlivens the colourful score.”

“Miina-Liisa Värelä as the Dyer’s wife is sensational, with sparkling top tones, a warm middle register and great depth.”

“Dramatically and vocally, Miina-Liisa Värelä as Ortrud is so outstanding that you almost feel more drawn to evil than to the supposedly good.”

“Her beautiful voice, which is particularly pronounced in the high notes, did not appear particularly dramatic at first, but increased in the course of the opera to a volume and depth of penetration that was second to none.”

“She already presents an assured and rounded version of the character [Isolde], both vocally and in her movement. Apart from raw power and impressive stamina, she brings many vocal nuances to a role that, all too often, singers mainly survive rather than shape.”

“The soprano Miina-Liisa Värelä led the listener with flexible vocal colouring and a large dynamic range”

“A flexible, highly dramatic soprano, Värelä took this up with a wealth of nuances and was responsible for the finely chiselled drama”

“Mina-Liisa Värelä (replacing the expected Nina Stemme) is an excellent Tintora, more lyrical than dramatic, more sarcastic than afflicted, of great vocal security, capable of nuances and of a remarkable variety of colors on the whole range.”

“Miina-Liisa Värelä plays an extraordinary dyer. The voice is frank, the delivery powerful, the richness of timbre obvious.”

“Miina-Liisa Värelä was the excellent surprise of the evening, delivering an undecided Dyer, hesitating between meanness and arrogance, but ultimately moving and human, and also very expressive by the fiery glances she never stopped throwing at her poor husband.”

“His wife was played by dramatic soprano Miina-Liisa Varela. Like Magee she rose to Strauss’ vocal challenges with apparent ease, and produced an accomplished performance. She displayed wonderful upper register, which was firmly grounded, and was able to soar effortlessly above the orchestra, without any loss of quality. However, she not only possessed power, but also the necessary delicacy, and a pleasing legato.”

“Miina-Liisa Värelä, in the role of Sieglinde, harvested the evening’s greatest applause. She sang with power, clear and nuanced, and with a lovely edge to the voice.”

“The young Finnish soprano Miina-Liisa Värelä sang a psychologically nuanced and musically perceptive Dyer’s Wife. With her full, rounded voice, she brought youthful impetuousness to the powerhouse role.”