“A special work demands a special soloist, and Craney was the right artist, giving a riveting performance as Joan. Craney’s youthful lyric soprano made Joan’s utterances seem like a natural extension of speech. At times, she moved through the capacity audience, seeming to float from point to point, engaging individual audience members as one might wish to confront a judge or witness. It is difficult to imagine a more effective singing actress in the role.”

“Ms. Craney is known for her versatility as a soprano soloist, with appearances ranging, like Bach & Forth’s, from the Baroque to the contemporary, and she adds art song to her credits. Her operatic roles include Mme. Mao in John Adams’s “Nixon in China.” Performing in major houses in this country and abroad, she has had leading roles in operas by Verdi and Prokofiev, and was the Queen of the Night in 39 European performances of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” She lives and teaches voice in Manhattan as well as Springs.”