Role debut as Jason in Medea at the Metropolitan Opera
Rick Perdian
New York Classical Review
Tenor Matthew Polenzani was also in prime vocal estate and cut a youthful and dashing figure as Giasone. As demonstrated in his portrayal of the title character in last season’s Don Carlos, Polenzani’s voice is becoming richer and gaining more dramatic thrust with passing time, while retaining its essential lyrical quality. For his many fans, Giasone is yet another role in which to enjoy this fine artist.
“Tenor Matthew Polenzani was also in prime vocal estate and cut a youthful and dashing figure as Giasone. As demonstrated in his portrayal of the title character in last season’s Don Carlos, Polenzani’s voice is becoming richer and gaining more dramatic thrust with passing time, while retaining its essential lyrical quality. For his many fans, Giasone is yet another role in which to enjoy this fine artist.”
“Matthew Polenzani brought the trademark warmth that has served him so well in Mozart operas to the role of Giasone, giving him complexity. Instead of a full-blown jerk, Polenzani’s tender vocalization during “Or che piu non vedro” expressed sincerity in his feelings for Glauce. Even as he gave into Medea during their Act two duet, Polenzani’s gentle interpretation gave you a sense of the feelings that once existed between the two. It made that tragedy all the more palpable and believable. But when called upon to deliver more jagged and violent vocal lines, especially as he rejected Medea throughout the first Act and start of the second Act duet, Polenzani’s round sound took on a more pointed quality.”
“…excellent cast around Radvanovsky, including the tenor Matthew Polenzani, breezily arrogant as the fickle Giasone (Jason)”
The New York Times