Portrayed by…Emily Fons, Cherubino most unselfconsciously embodied the lusty spirit of this production. Fons effortlessly captured the charm, confusion, resourcefulness and raging hormones of adolescence, and her Act I aria, “Non so piu cosa son,” and her Act II canzona, “Voi che sapete,” were sung with such innocence, such lyrical purity, that they were among…

At the heart of this story is, of course, Sister Helen Prejean. Emily Fons makes her Kentucky Opera debut in this role, bringing Prejean’s humor, outspokenness and deep faith to light. Fons’ warm voice foregrounds Prejean’s compassion, while still showing the doubts she has about undertaking this journey and, ultimately, the strength of her convictions…

Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons created a fiery, deeply human Donna Elvira, blending a dark, warm, mezzo sound, with vocal agility and an easy command of the role’s soprano range. Elaine Schmidt for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The standout of the cast was a Woody Guthrie-inspired Cherubino in jeans, cowboy hat, and carrying a guitar, performed outstandingly by Emily Fons. The classic pants role was convincingly acted. Her boyish tosses of the arm and a gawky posture simply made the audience forget they were looking at a woman until she opened her…

Fons was an affecting Susanna, with her gorgeous rich tone, super diction, exquisite coloratura and her detailed attention to the text producing lambent tones on critical notes. One can single out the air “Bending to the throne of glory” as displaying all her strengths, with a sustained controlled cadenza in the da capo. Another tour…

… la jeune Emily Fons est, dans le rôle-titre, une heureuse révélation, alliant un timbre riche et corsé à une projection aussi insolente que son agilité. Un soupçon de larme sur la voix, un rien de sobriété dans l’art de l’ornementation, et elle sera sans aucun doute une très grande Angelina. … the young Emily…