MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL - JULY 2008 |
'As always John Treleaven impressed with his vocal strength and artistic intensity which he shows in the 3rd Act , without obviously having spared himself earlier.' |
Der Neue Merker
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VIENNA STATE OPERA - MARCH 2008 |
Heartfelt and expressive
‘A worthwhile encounter thanks to the singers. John Treleaven proves that it really is possible to sing the role of Tristan. Treleaven’s Tristan is very refined.’
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Kurier |
Wagner as a thrilling sound event
'John Treleaven (Covent Garden) as Tristan:……with his tenor resources well husbanded, in order to deliver a subtly differentiated, controlled interpretation in the love duet and in the 3rd Act.'
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Kultur |
'John Treleaven is a “sound” Tristan.'
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Wiener Zeitung |
'John Treleaven - his vocal input from the baritonal depths to the endless tenor highs always perfectly trained and with imperturbable confidence was once again astonishing. Without sparing himself in the 1st Act, and without neglecting the lyrics in the 2nd Act, he sang a magnificent 3rd Act without the slightest signs of fatigue and one could have imagined him singing a 4th Act. That he is able to render a soft “Ach Isolde, wie schön bist du!” after the powerful outbursts and a touching final pp- “Isolde” while dying, is admirable. Could the secret of this vocal talent be attributed to his total identification with the part so that the singing becomes a mere by-product of his mental, spiritual, mimic and physical expression? No matter what: He was Tristan.’
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Der Neue Merker
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LOS ANGELES OPERA – JANUARY 2008 |
Opening Night Tribute to John Treleaven by Placido Domingo
'What can I say about the Tristan who was also making his debut in LA today with us? I believe that it is one of the most difficult if not the most difficult part in the whole repertoire. Especially the third act which is really so easy to force sometimes. I’ll tell you one thing, John Treleaven is a specialist, but not only in Tristan he also sings the Siegfried phenomenally and any of the Wagnerian parts, but my God what a beauty of sound! Especially, what a tremendous way of developing the character in the entire third act, coming from nothing, from all the disgrace, being so close to death progressing towards all these big enthusiastic dreams, going all the way back to his childhood, you know, talking about the melody, the sadness of his life, losing his father and mother, then coming to life and going on to talk about his wounds and everything. I have never heard a Tristan that does this act with such a beautiful sound and performs in such a great way as he did here today. We are very proud and very happy that he is here with us and we sincerely hope that he will come back. Ladies and Gentlemen our Tristan here tonight John Treleaven!'
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Radiant Loveliness
'John Treleaven, who sang the title role, was actually born in Cornwall, where some of the action takes place. He has interpreted this part in many major opera houses and he knows how to pace himself in order to sound as fresh as possible, even at the very end. He was a strong, virile, romantic Tristan, who feared no enemy and sang with burnished tones.' |
Music & Vision |
Liebesnacht: Treleaven’s Triumphant Tristan and Watson’s Wondrous Isolde at LA Opera
'It was in the Liebesnacht that I became aware of how well Treleaven’s sturdy voice fits with the requirements of this role. Like many heldentenors, his voice has a baritonal sound, and it has the heft to hold his own with the orchestra. Above all, Treleaven shows he has the ability to sustain Tristan’s long legato passages, that sometimes must be projected softly, sometimes with evident sweetness and expressiveness, and sometimes as a burst of high energy displaying Tristan’s delirium……..he is clearly a great Tristan…..' |
Opera Warhorses |
'Helden tenor John Treleaven possesses the vocal heft and stamina for the role of Tristan…….made beautiful by his musical intelligence and dramatic singing. Tristan’s justly famous Act 3 monologue was handled with searing power and poetic poignancy – showing the pitiful mental disintegration of the delirious hero from utter dejection to unhinged elation of seeing his Isolde once more.' |
Classical Voice: LA Opera Notes |
'In the title roles, John Treleaven and Linda Watson manage their marathon with plenty of stamina, not to mention moments of breathtaking tenderness……..this Tristan and his fellow vocalists sang with that Germanic style of uncoloured utterance, like inner thoughts issuing from the throat on their own – without conscious shaping, without mannerism.' |
LA City Beat |
'John Treleaven is more than up to the task of heldentenor, or “heroic tenor,” in the incredibly demanding role of Tristan.' |
LA Downtown News |
LA Opera’s ‘Tristan und Isolde’ a stunning production, a real winner.
'The music in the Act 2 love duet was sung expressively by Watson and her Tristan, heldentenor John Treleaven. Treleaven sang lyrically, with the most security and intense emotional musicianship in Act 3.' |
OperaOnline.us |
A revival of David Hockney’s production is a solid if not inspired account of Wagner’s masterpiece
'British tenor John Treleaven………Standing and belting is not his thing; creamy tones, connective, nuanced and eloquent lines are.' |
Orange County Register |
'Heldentenor John Treleaven as Tristan, delivered an outstanding performance singing effortlessly to the end.' |
HyperReview |
'John Treleaven totally identifies with the character of Tristan.' |
Teatro |
'Tenor John Treleaven, who sang the role of Tristan with lyrical grace.' |
Robert D. Thomas/Class Act |
'In Act III, Treleaven showcases his tremendous talent as he sings, dying and lying on his back.' |
Daily Trojan |
‘It was a treat to see the famous Tristan John Treleaven in the title role in Wagner’s four and a half hour marathon opera.’ |
Michael Ching – Artistic Director of Opera Memphis – Blog
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TEATRO MUNICIPAL DE SANTIAGO DE CHILE - JULY 2007 |
'...his voice is strong in the middle and lower register, he was solid and well rounded in his devotion and gave his Monologe with intensity and power.' |
La Tercera |
Do we still need Bayreuth? It's hard not to wonder when one sees and hears Wagner performed so much better everywhere from rural Sussex to far flung Chile.
Santiago's cast was led excitingly by John Treleaven........he was impassioned and untiring. |
Sunday Telegraph |
CONCERT VERSION, MONTREAL - FEBRUARY 2007 |
'British tenor John Treleaven who filled in for an ailing Ben Heppner, made a powerful Tristan both dramatically and musically. The two were in sync together making for some glorious singing.' |
Times Argus |
'Tenor John Treleaven was both firm and lyrical as Tristan. The lovers worked well together in the Act 2 duet.' |
The Gazette |
HAMBURG STATE OPERA |
John Treleaven proved that, at the present time, he is vocally one of the few alternatives for this role, that are available to first-class theatres. .... He sang with sophistication and with lyricism in the duet, and had not only enough strength for the delirium-visions, but also the ability to really sing them. He also demonstrated that he was still in full possession of his strength right at the end, with a wonderful piano sounding "Isolde", - Respect!
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BBC
LONDON FEBRUARY 2003 |
Act
1 John Treleaven did it very well, his tenor grown more substantial
and steady since his Coliseum days - welcome back! Act 2 As before,
the dusky substance of John Treleaven' s tone in the middle register
was most impressive. Act 3 Treleaven came to his own with a supremely
intelligent response to the words. It was almost impossible to listen
to his account of one man's physical and spiritual agony, and his final
'Isolde' stopped the heart. In a word, I found this act more moving
in concert than I ever have in the theatre and no, I am not forgetting
Jon Vickers. |
Opera |
John
Treleaven's Tristan sang with ringing, clarion tone yet was capable
of scaling down the voice in the intimate moments and both he and Brewer
found hushed rapture for the central love duet. |
The Times |
John
Treleaven's Tristan is sung with finesse. He negotiates the guelling
challenge of Tristan's final ravings with tremendous vocal force. |
The Guardian |
Tristan,
John Treleaven, also impressed me. To my ears he has the right vocal
quality for the role - baritonal but ringing and heroic at the top of
vocal range. Unusually for a Heldentenor, he also has the ability to
sing pianissimo. His singing of the opening bars of " O sink hernieder,
Nacht der Liebe" was magical. |
The Classical Source |
John
Treleaven showed that his high reputation in Germany in Wagner roles
seem not to have been exaggerated, his tenor has a strong baritonal
grain to it and he sang with grace and a strong feeling for Wagner's
overheated libretto. |
Sunday Telegraph |
I
shan' t forget the performance sung with such evenness and intensity
as it was by John Treleaven …
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Sunday Times |
The
excellent singer's voice has truly marinated, acquired the darker colorations
and the girth. But on drinking the love potion, can still give us the
most honeyed and perfectly placed 'Isolde' - the name held in timeless
rapture. |
The Independent
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AMSTERDAM - FEBRUARY 2001,
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The
singers gave outstanding performances. Gabriele Schnaut and John Treleaven,
singers of impressive musicality and faultless technique, were excellently
matched. Both were able to express to the full the many facetted moods
and complex thoughts and feelings of Tristan and Isolde. Treleaven
was in complete command of his role in its totality with his glorious
tenor voice - so beautiful in the lyrical passages! He portrayed the
feelings of Tristan so convincingly that one remained captivated by
his wide diversity of expression right up to the fiendish outbursts
of despair. |
Der Neue Merker |
The
singers that Rattle had at his disposal were of an international standard.
John Treleaven is strongly pushing his way forward as a Wagner Hero.
He really lives out the part of Tristan in every act. His voice possesses
power and agility, ringing clarity and expressiveness. Above all Treleaven
recaptures the vocal quality appropriate to a Wagnerian tenor role,
giving a performance of indisputable high quality, both musically
and vocally. |
Frankfurter Allgemeine |
One
seldom sees a Tristan who is really ailing in Act 3 as he was in Amsterdam.
With Wagner in mind, John Treleaven actually comes from Cornwall.
In Amsterdam he confirmed his reputation as a very promising and intelligent
Heldentenor with tremendous powers of interpretation, a bright vocal
timbre and considerable reserves. |
Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung |
John
Treleaven is heart-rending as the suffering Tristan of the third act,
when he sings on a grand scale, with dark colours of bleakness and
agony. |
The New York Times |
As Tristan the British John Treleaven was truly arresting in his intense
feverish delirium. Earlier on too, he did not let all the dramatic
ploys of Isolde overshadow his powerful performance. |
Handelsblatt |
Treleaven, whose Lohengrin was a welcome surprise at the Vienna State
Opera last season, was joined on the stage by other skilled Wagnerian
singers. |
Financial Times, Germany |
John Treleaven's stamina was truly formidable. A Tristan, who right
up to the end can still sing out well with no apparent signs of vocal
fatigue and be able to phrase beautifully, must definitely have drunk
a magic potion. |
Trouw |
John
Treleaven, whose Tristan was beautiful, is becoming increasingly important
as a Wagnerian singer. This English tenor, who has often sung Walther,
Erik and Siegmund, takes on Tristan and Siegfried with clarity of
voice production, elegant phrasing and a dramatic presence that constitutes
the essence of his performance. |
La Libre Belgique |
Top
international soloists are singing with the outstanding John Treleaven
as Tristan. |
Nieuwe Noordhollandse Courant |
The
tenor John Treleaven is vocally more than able to cope with the role
of Tristan. In the duet with the impetuous Kurwenal Treleaven proves
his very moving dramatic prowess. |
De Gelderlander |
It
was an impressive performance for outstanding vocal athletics with
John Treleaven as a human, powerful and magnificent Tristan. |
Het Parool |
...the
tenor John Treleaven showed us a Tristan who mastered the difficult
third act wonderfully. |
Brabants Dagblad |
John
Treleaven is an estimable and moving Tristan. |
Le Monde |
John Treleaven sang an outstanding debut als Tristan. He has a wonderful
future ahead of him as a Wagner-Tenor and God knows this voice group
could use new blood... |
Het Parool |
...during the evening John Treleaven won us over with warmth and radiance. |
De Groene Amsterdammer |
..and the Tristan John Treleaven earnt the highest praise. |
Amsterdam Radio |
John
Treleaven is valiantly stepping up into the international ranks of
Wagner tenors and on this showing deserves to be taken seriously....he
sings with breadth of phrasing and musicianship. |
Financial Times |
Gabriele
Schnaut‘s partner is the British tenor John Treleaven, hardly ever
heard in his homeland nowadays, but a robust and convincing Tristan
here. |
The Guardian |
....a
valiant Tristan in the Cornishman John Treleaven, who lasts the course
and does some touching things in Act III - his poignant cry „“Isolde,
Isolde, how beautiful you are“ is a moment of true pathos. |
The Sunday Times
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KARLSRUHE
- JULY 2000
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Tristan
discovered! I have regarded John TRELEAVEN as a good, often very good
singer - as Tristan he is exceptional! It‘s as if he had been born
to the part! He took this vocal feat in his stride that has been the
downfall of many a heldentenor. The longer the phrases, the more demanding
the part in respect of power, challenge and the art of phrasing, the
more at ease the singer appeared to feel and the more expressive and
enthusiastic he became. The mature voice being so fabulously well-placed
meant that he could really open up at the climaxes (of which there
were many!). His being in complete command, not only of the text and
vocal line but also in his understanding of the intrinsic meaning,
enabled him to enact the whole abundant gamut of expression of the
complex Wagner character. As a result the audience was captivated
from his first entrance up to his last
breath. |
Der Neue Merker |
John
Treleaven husbanded his reserves so economically that the two monologues
in the third act saw him in top form. After the demands of the love
scenes, he could still produce what a tenor must give us at this stage:
a feverish dementia of self-renunciation and self-forgetfulness, subsumed
in an overwhelming longong for love and death. |
Badisches Tagblatt |
John
Treleaven‘s tenor lent the part of Tristan an imposing dynamic power.
He projected into the theatre the lurid insanity of the third act
with great vitality. It was the highpoint of the production. |
Badische Neueste Nachrichten |
John
Treleaven is a titan amoung Tristans. In Karlsruhe he showed his vocal
power and kept enough in reserve to let him rise in the last act to
a fever of insanity. |
Frankfurter Rundschau |
The
diversity of John Treleaven's powerful, full-bodied tenor displays
a mellifluous piano cantabile, yet can blaze forth in rich volume
in his uppermost register, whilst the feverish delirium of his solo
in the third Act has the effect of a suspense-filled psychological
thriller. |
Südwestpresse |
In the role of Tristan, John Treleaven's Heldentenor wins the audience
over with his impressive tone quality and his artistic characterisation. |
Opernwelt |
With
unbelievable expessivity Treleaven created Tristan‘s fever-driven
insanity, revealing his powerful tenor in all its heroic brilliance. |
Rhein-Neckar
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