'Paula Downes was the soprano [...] in the Vines and [she was] excellent'. The Boston Globe, January 2010

In the ‘intentionally difficult’ Torrid Nature Scene by Nicholas Vines, Paula Downes was ‘comfortable and almost playful’, performing ‘explosive sounds of the words’, ‘vocalized sighs’ and ‘distortions of mouth shapes’. The Boston Musical Intelligencer, January 2010

'Paula Downes, the composer's daughter, brought a fine upper register and cold authority to the marriage-resistant Bathsheba Everdene.' Opera News, February 2008

'Pride of place inevitably goes to Paula Downes as Bathsheba - she looked and lived the part and her natural unforced voice, [...] was ideally suited to the character' British Music Society Journal, January 2008

'Paula Downes, the composer’s daughter, a stylish and canny performer' Church Times, UK, October 2007

'Paula Downes - pure-toned and coquettish [...]And best of all, the superbly-realised first encounter between Bathsheba and Troy [...] crowned by Bathsheba's ascent into the stratosphere' Birmingham Post, UK, August, 2007

'Distinctive vocals rang out [...] Paula Downes, daughter of the composer and librettist, was perfectly suited to the teasing role of Bathsheba and played it with aplomb' Sandwell Chronicle, UK, September, 2007

'All the leading roles were in safe professional hands: Paula Downes brought a delightful purity and coquettishness to her role as the flirtatious Bathsheba Everdene' Incorporated Society of Musicians Journal, UK, January 2007

'Paula Downes...led with clear vocal projection and immaculate intonation into a moving bygone world of poetry.' Nordsee-Zeitung, March 2005

'the cool beauty of her voice projected the atmospheric phrases [...] true and clear against the accompaniment' Birmingham Post, UK, October 2003