La Favorite / Bayerische Staatsoper
Jeffrey A. Leipsic
Opera News
Tenor Matthew Polenzani was an exquisite Fernand, skillfully mixing Italianate tone with French style, showing a robust upper register in “Ange si pur” but tempering phrases above the staff with effective use of voix mixte, not to cover up any vocal deficiencies but to fit voice to line.
“Bayerische Staatsoper’s new production at Munich’s Nationaltheater (seen Oct. 23), sung in the original French, was graced with extraordinarily good singing … Tenor Matthew Polenzani was an exquisite Fernand, skillfully mixing Italianate tone with French style, showing a robust upper register in “Ange si pur” but tempering phrases above the staff with effective use of voix mixte, not to cover up any vocal deficiencies but to fit voice to line.”
Jeffrey A. Leipsic – Opera News
“Both Elīna Garanca and Matthew Polenzani are in stellar vocal shape throughout. Their performances are models of bel canto style combined with heartfelt feeling when the stage director decides not to impose her own random acts of regie. The opera (like so many) focuses on the ecstasies and agonies of illicit love as expressed particularly in the work’s two most familiar arias (her ”O mon Fernand” and his ”Ange si pur”) which are among many fine moments.”
Michael Johnson – Concerto Net