Tosca, Santa Fe Opera

American tenor Brian Jagde threw off Pavarottian sparks as Cavaradossi. Santa Fe scored a coup with Jagde... He’s definitely someone to watch.

“That leaves the promising young American tenor Brian Jagde to walk away with the vocal and dramatic gold as an uncommonly ardent Cavaradossi, nailing his arias with robust vocalism.”
Chicago Tribune – John von Rhein – 8/3/12

“A late replacement as Cavaradossi, Brian Jagde has a truly heroic, and handsome tenor, but he shades it down to velvety pianissimos.”
Dallas Morning News – Scott Cantrell – 7/29/12

“American tenor Brian Jagde, who came into the production quite late, sang Tosca’s lover Cavaradossi with such incisive sound… Jagde clearly loved showing off his bright, bronze-strong high notes, and it was nice to hear such healthy, confident vocalism.”
Santa Fe.com – Craig Smith – 7/6/12

“…contrary to the lamentations of some critics, the big, healthy voices needed for the great Puccini, Verdi and verismo works exist today.  Jagde, a recent prize-winner in Placido Domingo’s Operalia contest in Beijing, China, who was to make his role debut as Cavaradossi in November 2012 at the San Francisco Opera, got the call to take over the entire run of ten performances in Santa Fe for an indisposed colleague. His is a lyric voice with power, with a soft tenor vibrato, of a kind I associate with Carlo Bergonzi of a previous generation.”
Opera Warhorses – William Burnett – 6/30/2012

“A near last-minute replacement, tenor Brian Jagde sings Cavaradossi, one of the choice tenor repertoire roles. Full of an ardent depth of character, Jagde produced some truly stentorian tones, especially in the second act. In the duet with Echalaz there was a palpable chemistry.”
ABQ Journal – D. S. Crafts – 7/1/12

“Lyric tenor Brian Jagde makes his debut with Santa Fe Opera and the role of Cavaradossi.. Jagde’s voice and acting ability are strong and drew audible “bravos” from the audience.”
Examiner.com – Claudia Carbone – 7/1/12

“American tenor Brian Jagde, who came into the production quite late after the original tenor bowed out, sang Tosca’s lover Cavaradossi with such incisive sound… Jagde clearly loved showing off his bright, bronze-strong high notes, and it was nice to hear such healthy, confident vocalism.”
SantaFe.com – Craig Smith – 7/1/12

“Brian Jagde, Count Elemer in the company’s Arabella, was pressed into service as Cavaradossi just days before opening night. As it turned out, the American tenor provided the most consistent vocalism of the evening. He sang with polish and sensitivity, managing a clarion cry of “Vittoria!” and floating a lovely, burnished E lucevan e stelle. Jagde showed a light and charming rapport with Echalaz’s Tosca, and, even with his back to the audience, managed to convey surprised disbelief just by his fall at the opera’s close.”
South Florida Classical Review/Chicago Classical Review – Lawrence A. Johnson – 7/31/12

“By “E lucevan le stelle” Jagde provided pleasant warmth and subtlety to the well-known aria.”
Santa Fe Reporter – John Stege, – 7/4/12

“The American tenor Brian Jagde is a last-minute replacement as Cavaradossi gained in vocal quality and strength as the opera progressed. His final aria (E lucevan le stelle) was one of the highlights of the production.”
TheaterJones.com – Gregory Sullivan Isaacs – 7/31/12

“the tenor’s clarion tone, assertive deportment, and a suave “E lucevan le stelle” suggested that Cavaradossi will be a very good fit for him.”
San Francisco Classical Voice – Georgia Rowe – 7/31/12

“Each of the three principals demonstrated that, contrary to the lamentations of some critics, the big, healthy voices needed for the great Puccini, Verdi and verismo works exist today.  Jagde, a recent prize-winner in Placido Domingo’s Operalia contest in Beijing, China, who was to make his role debut as Cavaradossi in November 2012 at the San Francisco Opera, got the call to take over the entire run of 12 performances in Santa Fe for an indisposed colleague. His is a lyric voice with power, with a soft tenor vibrato, of a kind I associate with Carlo Bergonzi of a previous generation.”
Opera Warhorses – William – 6/30/12

“Each of the three principals demonstrated that, contrary to the lamentations of some critics, the big, healthy voices needed for the great Puccini, Verdi and verismo works exist today.  Jagde, a recent prize-winner in Placido Domingo’s Operalia contest in Beijing, China, who was to make his role debut as Cavaradossi in November 2012 at the San Francisco Opera, got the call to take over the entire run of ten performances in Santa Fe for an indisposed colleague. His is a lyric voice with power, with a soft tenor vibrato, of a kind I associate with Carlo Bergonzi of a previous generation.”
ABQ Journal – D.S. Crafts – 7/1/12 

“Jagde’s voice and acting ability are strong and drew audible “bravos” from the audience.”
The Examiner – Claudia Carbone, – 7/2/12

“Most of the time when a substitution is announced, there is an outcry of disappointment.  Not so this time, when celebrated young tenor Brian Jagde assumed the role of Cavaradossi in Santa Fe Opera’s excellent production of Puccini’s Tosca.  Scheduled to sing the role at the San Francisco Opera next season, Mr. Jagde stepped in with aplomb, singing with admirable luminosity and acting the part with consummate conviction.  Having enjoyed his performance as Elemer in Strauss’ Arabella a few nights ago, we were thrilled with the opportunity to hear him in a major role. His voice warmed up beautifully and his “E lucevan le stelle” was heartbreaking.  His vocal and dramatic skills were perfectly matched with those of his Floria Tosca, the South African soprano Amanda Echalaz.  The two of them were completely convincing in their attraction to one another, such that we admit to a bit of weeping at the final curtain.”
Voce di mecche – 7/31/12

“Brian Jagde, who already had prepared to sing the part at the San Francisco Opera in the fall stepped up to the SFO stage in admirable fashion and acquitted himself commendably with a rich, full tone and youthful ardor.”
Inn at the Alemeda.com – 7/3/12 

“But the big story here vocally was tenor Brian Jagde who took over the role of Cavaradossi for the entire run just days before the opening of the season. Jagde has a relaxed athletic tone that never feels pinched. He’s both believable and the kind of young singer you instantly want to hear more from.”
Out West Arts – 7/27/12

“Tenor Brian Jagde sings Cavaradossi with ringing tone and sustained high notes.”
SF Gate – Mike Silverman – 8/5/12

“Jagde sang with a big, ringing tone and dramatic conviction…”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Sarah Bryan Miller – 8/1/12

The tenor, Brian Jagde, was quite good, if not quite stunning. –
Odious and Peculiar Blog – 8/12/12

One highlight was the sonorous cello quartet interlude followed by Todd Levy’s lovely somber clarinet, laying the prologue to “E Luceven le Stelle” in Act III. Jagde, as Cavaradossi in Scarpia’s prison, sang with heartfelt sentiment.
Special to the El Paso Times – Mary Helen Klare – 8/19/12

“Talented American tenor Brian Jagde, a handsome man, has so much voice he can’t help showing it off… From instinct and training, he knows his way around a stage, and he can be perfectly charming.”
Opera West – David Gregson, – 8/13/12

“Brian Jagde, who took over the role of Cavaradossi a week before the show opened in June, sang a soft but impassioned “E lucevan le stelle,” providing a satisfying moment…”
Wall Street Journal – Heidi Waleson – 8/13/12

“This is a gorgeous voice with a glorious top. In midrange and lower, Jagde has baritone quality and heft. Under 30, he is a handsome young fellow with handsome youthful credits.”
Charlene & Brenda Blog – Charlene Baldridge – 8/14/12

I enjoyed Jagde’s youthful physicality, and the playful exchanges of Act. He’s got a beautiful golden sound, and managed “Recondita armonia”, and kept a firm dynamic lid on “E lucevan le stele”.”
Parterre – Lee B. Ahmo – 8/17/2012

“[We] were thrilled last night with the singing of tenor Brian Jagde, in the role of the painter Cavaradossi in Puccini’s opera Tosca at the Santa Fe Opera.  He’s a young and upcoming American with a voice of gorgeous tone quality top to bottom and everlasting “money notes” in the high range.”
Creating Interest – Michael Bouman – 8/1/12

“But even on a starry night, some stars just shine brighter and that night in Santa Fe those stars were Brian Jagde and Thomas Hampson.  Tenor Brian Jagde stepped in to sing the role.  Luckily for Santa Fe Opera, Jagde had been preparing the role for upcoming performances at San Francisco Opera and Deutche Oper Berlin.  Here is what first struck me about Jagde – he is a man baby!  He is a big, tall, substantial, beefy man!  Now, I hate to lump tenors in one big category…. or more accurately one short, stocky category, but …. I just did.  I can just imagine Jagde in so many tenor roles that would not require the suspension of disbelief that one must use for the countless short, stocky tenors who will remain unnamed here.  Okay, beefy man….. check!  Now onto the voice…. what a voice!  Powerful, focused, beautiful… what more needs to be said?  When he arose in Act II after learning about Napoleon’s victory at Manengo singing “Vittoria…. Vittoria…” Yeah…. that was Operagasm #1.  I can just imagine someday sitting in a rocking chair telling my grandchildren about the time I saw Brian Jagde (who by this time will be a Pavarotti level star.)”
Operagasm – Christie Connolley – 8/23/12

American tenor Brian Jagde threw off Pavarottian sparks as Cavaradossi. Santa Fe scored a coup with Jagde…  He’s definitely someone to watch.”
Chicago Sun Times – Andrew Partner – 8/23/12

“Brian Jagde sang Cavaradossi with elegant but unfussy phrasing, and a voice that was not huge, nor over-the-top dramatic, but handsome and focused, with a good core and excellent intonation, well suited to the part overall if a bit restrained at times.  But the high point of this performance, and it was very high, was an aria that may well be the crux of the opera — Cavaradossi’s solo “E lucevan le stelle”, in act III……  Jagde was at the opposite end of the spectrum—with vocal histrionics to a minimum, full, legato phrasing and musical beauty prioritized.  Emotionally, the beauty of remembered times with Tosca predominated, and the final “I have never loved life so much” (“Non ho amato mai tanto la vita!”) resonated more than the immediately preceding “I die desperate!” (“muoio disperato”).  The music does more than enough to convey the pathos of the situation; Jagde’s smooth, focused, firm and centered but not at all harsh or hard, and very slightly dark, voice, and supremely musical phrasing was perfect for this interpretation, and the effect was devastating, perhaps even more effective than a more highly wrought rendition.  It is hard to know—and doesn’t much matter—whether this judgement would hold up on listening to a recording, but subjectively, in its effect in context in this live performance, this was one of the greatest pieces of opera singing I’ve ever been privileged to hear.  It brought down the house.”
Wine, Physics and Song – Howard Barnum – 8/26/12

“Brian Jagde, a divine tenor voice.”
The UpTempo Magazine – Christie Connolley – 8/27/12

“Tenor Brian Jagde as Tosca’s beloved Mario Cavaradossi, produced beautiful sounds and a realistic character”
Colorado Springs – David Sckolnik – 9/1/12

“Young Brian Jagde assumed the part of Cavaradossi on short notice when the originally scheduled performer withdrew. He brought many assets to the show, including Corelli-worthy top notes of ringing splendor… Mr. Jagde is a major talent making an auspicious role debut. While his Italianate music-making falls easily enough on the ear, I wonder if his future might not lie in the lighter Wagnerian roles.”
Opera Today – James Sohre – 9/27/12

“The tenor, Brian Jagde, stepped in late in the game after the scheduled performer found himself afoul of New Mexico allergies; he was quite good, if not quite stunning.”
Odious and Peculiar – 8/12/12

“Taking over the entire run, Bran Jagde was an agreeable surprise as Cavaradossi.  His medium-weight tenor has a nice ring and, he demonstrated solid musicianship, especially in a necely phrased ‘E lucevan le stelle’.
Opera Magazine – George Loomis – 11/1/12