Brian Jagde brings his “heroic tenor” to debut as Froh in ‘Das Rheingold’ with the New York Philharmonic

... nothing stands in the way of an extraordinary — indeed, flawless — young Anglo-American cast ... In fact, Wagner’s characters all feel human here ... Froh (the trumpeting Brian Jagde) ..."

“… nothing stands in the way of an extraordinary — indeed, flawless — young Anglo-American cast … In fact, Wagner’s characters all feel human here … Freia (the bright-voiced Rachel Willis-Sorensen), Froh (the trumpeting Brian Jagde) and Donner (the booming Christian Van Horn) are all plausible. These gods are not so different from the rich people you might know (or be): used to getting their way and genial, even caring, until power and money are at stake.”
Zachary Woolfe – The New York Times

“A great cast truly sangthe work: there was nary a moment of strain or a “Bayreuth bark” to be heard all evening. This must surely be Gilbert’s achievement as much as that of his able performers … Brian Jagde a Froh with the projective force of a true heldentenor.”
Fred Cohn – Opera News

“… the performance belonged to an uniformly exceptional roster of singers … the heroic and shimmering tenor Brian Jagde …”
Edward Sava-Segal – Bachtrack

“Brian Jagde brought a heroic tenor to the role of her protective brother Froh …”
Eric C. Simpson – New York Classical Review

“The other standouts were Brian Jagde, a strong, shining tenor as Froh …”
David Shengold – Gay City News

“As Froh Brian Jagde sang with passionate ardor from his opening lines when he tries to save Freia to his final lines. However in his final solo Jagde began with a piano line before crescendoing to the heroic tenor tone.”
Francisco Salazar – Operawire

“As Freia’s concerned siblings, Brian Jagde (Froh, god of spring) gave the impression he might save the day with his clarion, ringing tenor, and Christian Van Horn (Donner, god of thunder) used his rugged, commanding baritone to credibly summon a thunderstorm.”
Joshua Rosenblum – ZealNYC

“Ringing tenor of Brian Jagde as Froh …”
-Oberon’s Grove

“The trio of Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Mr. Van Horn and Brian Jagde made the most of their small parts as Freia, Donner and Froh, Wotan’s in-laws.”
-Superconductor

Photo: Chris Lee