Leslie Holmes - Comments/Reviews

"Your 'La Vie en Rose' rendition was so gorgeous. You inhabited it completely."

Lisa Kantor, cabaret singer

"I had a great time and really enjoyed the feeling of the evening. You were wonderful – the consummate cabaret artist!!!"

Dan Hogan, Director of Passim's Club, Cambridge

"I want to reiterate just how much I enjoyed your performance last night. You really were exquisite! The detail of your work, your connection to what you were saying, the intensity of your feeling, your voice, your expressiveness was just so satisfying. I have only heard you sing a song here and there at Amazing so this was a real treat."

Ashley Lieberman, Chair, Advisory Committee
Boston Association of Cabaret Artists

"I have heard you many times, but I was astonished that you not only looked beautiful, but sounded better than ever. Your French was absolutely flawless, as was your sense of style. You also spiced your program with anecdotes about each song, things that this listener – who prides himself on what he knows about French music – learned all kinds of new interesting tidbits.

"You remind me a great deal of Barbara Cook, whom I consider one of the great artists of our time. Like Barbara, when you start a song you can see that you shut yourself away from the audience and absorb yourself completely into the song. The result is that you become that song, and we, the voyeuristic listener, then experience the emotions of that song ourselves. There are few artists today who can do that: José van Dam, Quastoff, Streisand are among that group.

"Like these people, you then hold the audience as long as you want after you finish, so that they won't applaud until you are ready to let go. What a lady you are!"

Robert Gartside, tenor
Author: Songs of Gabriel Fauré, Songs of Maurice Ravel

'Dressed in a skin-tight floor-length red dress which exposed one delicate shoulder, black lace shawl, long black gloves and long rhinestone earrings, her command of the material and the research she had done was staggering. In addition to her gorgeous singing' ... Audience member, Bard College

'The performance of Leslie Holmes was gorgeous. She has got a marvelous voice and plays the piano excellently.' Dr. Antonino Orlando after performance at Zurich American Consulate

'When Leslie Holmes sang my TRILOGY, based on poetry from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, I knew that I would write songs for her. Her interpretations were filled with a deep sensitivity to the text - they were not merely vocal accomplishments.' Minuetta Kessler, composer

''Thanks for bringing both your voice, passion, and research to us ... you did a terrific job.' Risa Gilpin, Program Director, Providence Athenaeum

'How very grateful I am for your elegant presentation of JANE CARLYLE in Fairbanks [Alaska]. You have created a contemplative, brooding atmosphere beyond the markings in the score that is especially moving and effective. You are living proof that performers are also composers.' Ann Kearns, composer

'Congratulations on a fabulous concert!' Kate Kilbourne, Arts Director, The French Library in Boston

'The reaction to your Cabaret Francais from our membership was overwhelming. This was the largest attendance we have had all year. Obviously your reputation preceded you.' John M. Tischio, President, New England Opera Club

'I loved to hear and see you perform in person. You were awesome.' Mercedes, Cabaret performer

'I just wanted to call and say how extraordinarily pleasing and uplifting Wednesday evening's concert was at the Natick Center. Barbara and I were very uplifted. So, many thanks for brining happiness to the suburbs ... it was a very nice evening. We loved it.' Allen Crocker, M.D., Boston Children's Hospital