"Claire Groom's Donna Anna emerged as a doughty fighter from her resistance in the opening scene…Dramatically the livlier of the two was Donna Anna. In the scene with Don Ottavio in Act One she declared her recognition of her assailant in a blood-curdling, almost hysterical delivery of the accompanied recitative, grabbing the unfortunate Don Ottavio by the lapels and thrusting a vengeful sword at him." 

Opera Now, March 2006, Lynne Walker: La Rondine

"Unlucky in her bitter-sweet amorous predicament as Magda in La Rondine, Claire Groom was at least more fortunate in real life, winning a BBC fame academy bursary worth £37,500 as she prepared for the lead role in the RNCM's opera...

 Strongly cast, the work came across as far from insubstantial, thanks largely to Groom's touching portrayal of the swallow-like heroine...

 Of the two hit numbers, Chi il bel Sogno di Doretta found Groom in full, vivid voice.  She comfortably negotiated some of Puccini's most challenging soprano lines while at the same time conveying the vulnerability of her position…

Surprisingly for this bittersweet comedy of manners and least performed of Puccini's mature operas, this La Rondine took flight."

Opera Magazine, March 2006, Michael Kennedy: La Rondine 

"The heroine, Magda is given ravishing music, such as the famous "Chi il bel sogno", but one feels that Puccini might have been much more involved with her if she had been dying of consumption rather than sacrificing her hope of marriage to Ruggero because of a slightly dubious past.  Nevertheless, in the care of an intelligent singer, as was the case in Claire Groom's performance, the role can be far more interesting than it might appear...In Claire Groom we have found a soprano born to sing Puccini.  Her creamy tone at the top soured only once or twice with her opulent phrasing.  This was a most accomplished vocal performance...

The orchestra's playing had colour and vivacity as well as richness of emotional variety.  Shanahan knows that Puccini sometimes needs to be elegant as well as expressive.  So does Claire Groom, and she has that rare quality known as style."

Musical Opinion Magazine, Dec 2005, John Byrne: La Rondine

"As Magda, Claire Groom showed a fine versatility to portray the varying emotions of the character and proved she could out-sing a large orchestra and chorus on her own. As a stage prescence she took control throughout...

Another fine performance to show that the future of opera is in good hands!"

Manchester Evening News, Dec 2005, Philip Radcliffe: La Rondine

"It all ends in tears…most affectingly sung by Claire Groom...highly enjoyable." 

Classical Source.com, September 2003, Richard Whitehouse: Pintscher's Lieder und Schneebilder - BBC Proms/BBC Radio 3

"Soprano Claire Groom and pianist Jeremy Young (required to also play inside the piano, a rather limited gesture by now) performed with conviction.  A refinement of technique seems to mark Pintscher out."

 Opera Now, March 2004, Lynne Walker: A Better Place

"Effectively staged, and competently acted, the production benefitted from excellent singing, with Claire Groom as Karen - the worst kind of teenager."