Washington Bach Consort:

Christmas Oratorio (2017)

"Bach gave the oratorio’s best arias to his alto soloist, and mezzo-soprano Kristen Dubenion-Smith brought a maternal, comforting tone to this exquisite music. The highlight was “Schlafe, mein Liebster,” here a lullaby for the baby Jesus. Dubenion-Smith’s velvety legato and embracing warmth of sound combined ideally with the pale flauto traverso doubling her."

Charles T Downey, Washington Classical Review

 

"The dynamic contrasts of mezzo-soprano Kristen Dubenion-Smith were stark in her remarkable performance.  For example, in the aria “Schlafe, meine Liebster” of part II, her graceful musicality was evident when contrasting sleep with waking. She added vibrato in appropriate places, but remained baroque in overall approach."

Roger Custer, BWV 1129

 

“Marsh also drew fine performances from his soloists, especially tenor Robert Petillo, whose Evangelist was artfully communicative, and mezzo Kristen Dubenion-Smith, whose characterization of Mary's lullaby to the baby Jesus, 'Sleep, my beloved, enjoy your rest,' was a high point.” 

Patrick Rucker, The Washington Post

Dryden Ensemble:

Tribute to William Scheide(2014)

"Ms. Dubenion-Smith sang with a remarkably smooth register, especially in the aria “Wie furchstam wankten meine Schritte” of Bach’s Cantata 33 — an aria loaded with octave skips. Conceived more instrumentally than vocally, Bach’s arias can be difficult for mezzos because of range and register, but not for this mezzo. Ms. Dubenion-Smith handled the tough intervals and figures with a voice as smooth as silk and her Cantata 33 aria was particularly gracefully accompanied by violinist Vita Wallace and Daniel Swenberg playing theorbo."

Nancy Plum, Princeton NJ Town Topics

Evolution Contemporary Music Series: 

Little Match Girl Passion (2014)

"The well-matched singers got deep into the intimate drama, which draws from Anderson, H.P. Paulli, Picander and St. Matthew for its libretto. Dubenion-Smith, in particular, reached a deeply eloquent level."

Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun

Evolution Contemporary Music Series:

The Music of Missy Mazzoli (2013)

"Kristen Dubenion-Smith, mezzo-soprano, brought a deep sense of isolation to the re-imagined texts from Eberhardt’s journals with her clear tone and dark color."

Megan Ihnen, The Glass

Washington Bach Consort:

Cantata 69 (2012)

"In the solo aria 'Meine Seele' sung by mezzo Kristen Dubenion-Smith, the listener basked in the luxuriant richness of her lower register, while marveling at the facility of her upper tessitura. Her ornaments were well placed throughout and never detracted from the essence of the solo line. As she declared 'Meine Seele' or “my soul,” the depth of her conviction and connection to the music came through."

Patrick D. McCoy, Washington Life Magazine

Händel Choir of Baltimore:

Semele (2012)