Dark Lady

“She is as controversial offstage as she is on, but a total delight. With all her swings of happy and unhappy moods and periods of pressure, there is still a sense of incredible intelligence and instinct behind everything she does…. Her problems are understandable in light of the kind of performer she is, never placid or even-tempered. But she is not temperamental either, in the sense of doing personal damage to anyone — only suffering in herself to perform…. What makes Tatiana special is that odd combination of enormous strength and an almost palpitating, sensual quality. It’s a vibrancy that pleases the musical and emotional possibilities.” — Matthew Epstein on Tatiana Troyanos, whose 1973 performance of Samson et Dalila graces this week’s Unnatural Acts of Opera.