Wagner: Brünnhilde, heilige Braut! (from Götterdammerung)

“On this disc, he sings things he would never perform in the theatre, his obvious characteristic being an ethereal quality ideally suited to Lohengrin. It casts new light on Walther in Meistersinger and on Parsifal, though there his resources are stretched to the limit...Jonathan Nott seems to be a remarkable Wagner conductor.” BBC Music Magazine, June 2013 ****

“There is no lack of intelligence, sensitivity or preparation but of the requisite tessitura and sound quality...But the successes, where Vogt's voice works well with the music, are genuine...[in Lohengrin's farewell] Vogt is able to harness the (apt) wide-eyed innocence of his vocal delivery...to the dramatic situation.” Gramophone Magazine, June 2013

“In the prayer from Rienzi Vogt is very good indeed, with the flexibility to manoeuvre his way around the sometimes delicate filigree of the vocal writing...Nott faithfully follows the dictates of the music in these small-scale performances, and the orchestra plays well for him” MusicWeb International, 29th April 2013

“though possessing an undoubted princely nobility and boyish enthusiasm well suited to the younger roles, Vogt sounds thin and strained in places...his performance seems most effective when allied to the foil of Camilla Nylund's soprano” The Independent, 22nd February 2013

“This is an exciting calling card from a singer with every chance of a big Wagnerian future.” The Observer, 18th April 2010

“Bleeding chunks of Wagner can make for awkward home listening. But clever programming and the ringing heldentenor of O’Neill make this opera recital less bloody than some...O’Neill wrestles with father figures and magic swords in a voice powerful and noble.” The Times, 1st May 2010 ****

“His tone is more clean-cut [than Domingo's]...silver to Domingo's gold. His delivery...[is] thrilling, and not without real character and verbal sensitivity...He is lavishly supported here by his homeland orchestra..Altogether, this recording, in good sound, is more than promising.” BBC Music Magazine, June 2010 *****

“All credit to O'Neill for being able to make so much of this difficult assignment...in the more robust passages - Siegfried's reaction to the sleeping Brünnhilde, Parsifal remembering Amfortas's suffering - [his] authority and potential are unmistakable.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2010

“… over the last 15 years, certain Wagner roles have been the "property" of Ben Heppner – of all things, a Wagner tenor who, in addition to the requisite power, has what might be called a "conventionally beautiful" voice which he actually uses with some discretion and imagination… It's a wonderful piece of singing…” Fanfare

“Ben Heppner is not scheduled to make his debut as Wagner's dwarf-beating, anvil-busting hero until 2008 (Aix, under Sir Simon Rattle) so the present disc will have to suffice as a rain check. It does so because the Canadian tenor (whom we never seem to see in the UK) is in prime vocal form and… is in constant search of original, unhackneyed line readings” Gramophone Magazine

“He seems to have everything – power, stamina, a bright, truly tenorial timbre… and he has grown up vocally, through Walther and Lohengrin into Tristan, at an intelligent pace, while mixing in some Italian roles to keep the voice supple. Now, on this recital, he tackles Siegfried and Siegmund, from what we hear, he's more than ready for them and Wagnerians should be waiting in line… His combination of lyricism and sheer power are unique today: his cries of “Wälse!” are as brilliant as his “Winterstürme” is caressing and tender. He also never resorts to crooning soft moments; what we hear is a true range of dynamics, in real voice. Here and throughout his diction is impeccable and the forward placement of his voice brings real urgency to his exclamation. On to Siegfried. Not enough praise can be lavished on his Forging Song. I, certainly, have never heard it sung as effortlessly, energetically, expressively, fearlessly, and with such true boyish joy before. He attacks the music and text heroically – this Siegfried seems indomitable – and his tone never falters: it's always big and bright… The “Forest Murmurs” shows us an entirely different side of Siegfried, tender and pensive, and Heppner delivers the solo to us with beautiful tone, enraptured… Heppner's amazement is palpable, and he phrases each mood-change and new sensation with great freshness of tone… Overall, the Staatskapelle Dresden plays with lustre and rhythmic thrust. This is a stunning CD, sure to delight and tease Wagnerians. It gets the highest recommendation.” International Record Review

“This is work of a resourceful, imaginative artist…” John W. Freeman, Opera News