Hélène is a tricky role — you need the agility of a Violetta for the boléro’s fireworks — but Joyce El-Khoury, jumping in and learning the role in just nine days, sings with exquisite bel canto style, the first true Verdian soprano to tackle the role in this staging. – The London Times
Joyce El-Khoury is an outstanding Hélène here, demonstrating an ability later in the opera to float high notes with a facility as touching as it’s technically impressive. – The Standard
At the heart of the evening was Joyce El-Khoury, who joined rehearsals only a couple of weeks ago but had just one week to learn the formidable role of Hélène. You'd never have guessed. Singing with fearless attack in her boléro Merci, jeunes amies and bringing warmth and poise to her later scena with Henri, she gave a performance of staggering assurance and stamina. To step in under such circumstances would have been achievement enough; to deliver at this level felt almost superhuman. – Music OMH
Joyce El-Khoury as Hélène shows a voice of pure elegance, blossoming into power as the drama deepens. She is pure brilliance. – Lohengrin Magazine
