Features
& Reviews
Viva! 5 star Fringe review - Read here
The Herald review - Read here
Very
Viva! Irish Times
review - Read
online
here / View jpg
Viva! Metro feature article - View
here
Diva on new public Dublin Bikes - View
here
All The Festivals review - View
PDF
Herald Review - View here
Observer - View here
One4review - View here
The List - View here
Remote Goat Review - View here
Fringe Review talks to Maria Tecce. Listen here
The Herald, Scotland
"A purring delight of velvet-voiced seduction...mischevious, melancholy... A remarkably talented artist and songs you wish you could hear more of." Mary Brennan, The Herald . ( Read full review here )
Fringe Review ( ***** 5 stars)
"Beguilingly tender and vulnerable... Magical... Electric performance... She doesn't simply hold command over the stage, she takes possession of the entire Supper Room at the Assembly... Sheer power, not of cabaret but of theatre drenched in the essence of musical mastery. Yes, it was that good." Paul Levy, Fringe Review ( Read full review )
One4Review: 'Maria Tecce - Strapless'
"What this Diva wants this Diva gets! A great venue, band to die for, shed loads of class and old fashioned glamour. Her gypsy music is breathtaking" Sharron Colvin
(* * * * 4 stars)
“She’s certainly got a great feel for the
foreign material, belting out the songs with genuine
passion and interpreting others with real tenderness.
And her performing of a smattering of English language
numbers is no less riveting... [Tecce] is both captivating
and very seductive.”
The List (Miles Fielder)
(* * * * 4 stars)
“Sheer class…haunting.”
The Herald (Rob Adams)
(* * * * 4 stars)
“Maria Tecce is a Siren; beautiful, chic and enticing...
Pure emotive bliss.”
AllTheFestivals.com (Magnus Huntly-Grant)
“Maria Tecce can switch from froideur to scalding
meltdown in seconds... a total striptease without removing
so much as a shoe. ”
The Observer (Fiona Maddocks)
“A voice to melt butter and a repertoire of classics
to die for.”
The List
"Bostonian Maria Tecce is one of the highlights
of Europe's smart and adventurous cabaret scene. Her
cheekbones can slice a man's ego in half, her smile
could thaw Siberia, and the way she might direct her
finely sculpted eyebrows at you is only frightening."
The Times
Maria Tecce at Baránická Rychta, Praque
Steffen Silvus, The Prague Post, June 2, 2007:
I'm probably not the best person to consult about Maria
Tecce, as I've become a devoted fan of this Prague Fringe
star over the last couple of years. What else can
I say, other than the world, as wretched and vile as it
currently is, still seems like a glamourous place when
Tecce stands mic-side in the centre of some come-what-may
place to sing? And here she is again, in a Jezebel-scarlet
gown turning the strangewedding hall of Baracnicka rychta
into a passable twin for El Morocco. Tecce devotes the
evening to the torch song, that sub-genre of blues about
love that's gone wrong or gone on too long, with the occasional
side-trip into le Jazz hot vampery. There's also much of
Tecce's great humour on the bill, particularly her own
reworking of "These are a Few of My Favourite Things," something
bound to horrify the fans of Miss Julie Andrews. "Lush
Life," "How High the Moon," the soundtrack
of a more elegant age, and the perfect grace note to the
exciting, theatrical scruffiness of the Fringe.
Quotes from Reviews
"A purring delight of velvet-voiced seduction...mischevious, melancholy... A remarkably talented artist and songs you wish you could hear more of." Mary Brennan, The Herald
"Impressive, strong, and defiant... she truly shines and leaves the audience wanting more... Maria Tecce is a voice to listen out for in the future." Edinburgh Spotlight
"What this Diva wants this Diva gets! A great venue, band to die for, shed loads of class and old fashioned glamour. Her gypsy music is breathtaking" Sharron Colvin, Edinburgh Guide
"Fabulous." The Scotsman
"Beguilingly tender and vulnerable... Magical... Electric performance." Paul Levy, Fringe Review
"Sleek, seductive, dangerous... Chills went down my
spine. I was left, quite literally, breathless.". PragueTV
"Sexy and sophisticated.... A tour-de-force performance."
The
Boston Herald
“... the vocal gracefulness of a ballerina... Maria's
voice soared even further on her Spanish repetoire, as
if the linguistic border-crossing lends it a further velveteen
layer in which to luxuriate. Sheer theatrical brilliance.”
The
Times
"Wonderful talent! Superb ...I
will be featuring more of Ms. Tecce in future programs!" - Michael
Parkinson, BBC Radio 2 "Sunday Supplement
"Wow. And read that again, Wow.... A sensual angel
on stage."
The Independent
"... the vocal gracefulness of a ballerina... Maria's
voice soared even further on her Spanish repetoire, as
if the linguistic border-crossing lends it a further velveteen
layer in which to luxuriate. Sheer theatrical brilliance."
The
Times
"If Audrey Hepburn ever learned how to sing, she
might have become Maria Tecce.... Elegant ... cool ...
seductive ... Kill for tickets in you have to."
The
Prague Post
"What sets this record (Torch Song) shoulders above
most of its competitors is Tecce's delivery, which manages
to blend yearning and sex appeal with poignancy and professionalism." Tony
Clayton-Lea, cara magazine (Aerlingus in-flight magazine)
“Radiant.... every inch a star. This girl can
make us laugh, smile, and then touch us deep inside with
equal measure.... The woman makes being heartbroken look
cool.” Paul Halpin, FTM
“What else can I say, other than
the world, as wretched and vile as it currently
is, still seems like a glamourous place when
Tecce stands mic-side in the centre of some
come-what-may place to sing?”
Steffen Silvis, The Prague Post
"Wonderful talent! Superb ...I
will be featuring more of Ms. Tecce in
future programs!" Michael Parkinson,
BBC Radio 2 "Sunday Supplement
“... Tecce takes on the torch singer's mantle with
an agreeably unassuming
expressive power Torch song will surely bolster this gifted
artist's burgeoning reputation." Jazzwise Magazine
(U.K.)
"The very beautiful and extremely talented Maria Tecce
left the stage of The Spiegeltent on Friday night to a huge
standing ovation which was 100% deserved.......If Marlene
Deitrich was the queen of the Spiegeltent back in the 1920's,
than Maria Tecce is undoubtedly its new crowning glory."
Courtney
Louis-Jones, FTM
Read
more
"Maria Tecce couldn't do any more to evoke enduring
elegance and insoucient patrician style.…her vocals
move from vivacious scat to sensual purr with easily swinging
jazz standards that exude effortless cool "
Mick Heaney, The Irish Times
"A truly amazing performance, Maria enthralled her
audience with ease and bowled them over, truly mesmerised
everyone with her velvety tones. Her album All About Love
is out now, but do one better if you can and see her perform
live."
Wayne Cronin, Dublin Daily
"Maria Tecce's singing combines the intelligence of
a musician with the beguiling power of a leading actress."
The Sunday Tribune
"All About Love showcases Maria's remarkable voice
there's also a masterful rendition of 'I Love's You, Porgy'
and 'Love By You'…Tecce's own composition, 'This Love
Is Through', is the work of a talented songwriter."
John Meagher, The Irish Independent
"Maria Tecce's unaccompanied jazz number left the audience
hungry for more. The chameleon-like nature of Maria's talent
emerged again with a delicate yet forceful mask opera piece
for voice and guitar, arranged by the performer herself." The
Galway Advertiser
". . . This was followed by the stunning
voice of Maria Tecce, actor/composer/singer, who had the
audience in the palm of her hand. There can be little doubt
that when the gods look down and finally smile on Maria's
prodigious musical gifts the world. . is in for something
very special indeed."
Jeff O'Connell, Editor, Galway Advertiser
". . Maria Tecce was spellbinding." The Irish
Independent
"…relaxed and melodious, Tecce is a versatile
actress, musician, and cabaret performer and "Songs
From The Homeland" lends credibility to her status as
an interpreter with a foot in both camps [of music and text]…a
tribute to her acting assurance as much as her voice control…"
Gerry Colgan, The Irish Times
"…Tecce is a woman who exudes charm and a real
joie de vivre…'All About Love' produces a musical
experience that is bitter and delicious, romantic and obsessive,
tender and turbulent…"
Kernan Andrews, Galway Advertiser
"Musician, singer, and actress Maria Tecce takes on
the guises of the bruised, the brash, and the brittle...elegantly
executed, Maria imperiously translates the songs into her
own theatrical language. The reference points might be Ute
Lemper, Judy Garland, and Ella Fitzgerald, but the end result
is totally Tecce."
Tony Clayton-Lea, The Irish Times
"...Earnest, smouldering, and sensual...unselfconscious
and affecting vocals...stellar music and beautiful singing..." The
Irish Times
"Next up on stage was the sultry jazz, blues, and cabaret
singer Maria Tecce whose version of the Spanish song 'Besame
Mucho' stole the show."
The Irish Times
"A stylish singer with a gift for getting the most
out of the lyrics...intensely poignant...soulful, earthy,
and full of yearning and hearbreak."
The Sunday Independent
"One of the freshest, rich voices on the folk and blues
scene....a sensual angel on stage." Italian critic
Manuela Crippa
"Oh, I've got to declare myself on this one. As far
as I'm concerned Maria sings like an angel. My only complaint
is that there's only one track of hers on this CD." Irish
critic Keith Barrett
"Maria Tecce personified the eclectic spirit of the
night...her unaccompanied jazz number left the audience hungry
for more. The chameleon-like nature of Maria's talent emerged
again in the second half of the concert with a delicate yet
forceful mask opera piece for voice and guitar. This is definitely
a singer and artist that audiences in Galway would love to
hear more from in the future." Irish critic Carmel
Vessey
"Performer Maria Tecce...Stole the Show!" The
Irish Times
Maria Tecce at U Malého
Glena, Prague
May 31 to June 4, 2006
"Had Audrey Hepburn ever learned how to sing (no, that
wasn't her voice in My Fair Lady), she might have become Maria
Tecce. As elegant as Sabrina and with the gamine earthiness
of Holly Golightly, Tecce can command a room with her effortless
poise and her occasional, ever so suggestive smile. But these
attributes are secondary to a cool, seductive voice that transforms
old jazz and torch standards into something fresh. Her vocal
styling manages to reawaken words within shopworn lyrics, making
audiences feel as if they are present at the birth of the song. "Two
Sleepy People" and "One for my Baby" (the perfect
finale) quickly lose their Sinatra associations and become
Tecce's own. Here's a cabaret artist, who knows how to transform
a close, smoke-clogged dive into an intimate, inviting room.
Kill for tickets if you have to."
-- Steffen Silvis, The Prague Post |
