DECEMBER 2011

Colvin "outstanding" in MESSIAH
We end 2011 on a high note with a glowing review of Michael's appearance as tenor soloist in Handel's MESSIAH with Trevor Pinnock and the National Arts Centre Orchestra:
"Tenor Michael Colvin was also outstanding. His five numbers in the Passion sequence were deeply moving. Later, his Thou Shalt Break Them was forceful and a worthy prelude to the Hallelujah Chorus."
- Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen

Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

NOVEMBER 2011

Critical acclaim for Colvin's Steuermann in POV's DUTCHMAN:
"Michael Colvin's sweet tenor voice makes the small role of the Steersman stand out." - Times-Colonist 

Critical Acclaim in the works of Benjamin Britten [PDF]

OCTOBER 2011

Start of a new opera & concert season:
Michael kicks off the 2011/12 season with his role debut as The Steersman in Wagner's THE FLYING DUTCHMAN with Pacific Opera Victoria followed by his first Narraboth in Manitoba Opera's SALOME. Other engagements include Bob Boles in PETER GRIMES in Oviedo, Spain and a return to London's English National Opera for MADAME BUTTERFLY (Goro) and BILLY BUDD (Red Whiskers/Captain Vere cover). 

Concert highlights include Beethoven's MISSA SOLEMNIS with Edmonton's Richard Eaton Singers, Handel's MESSIAH with Trevor Pinnock and the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa) and Mahler's DAS LIED VON DER ERDE with the Louisville Symphony.

OCTOBER 2011

More critical acclaim for Michael's recent ENO appearance from OPERA CANADA:
"Michael Colvin, in the Peter Pears role of Flute, delivered flawless line, sonorous tone and impeccable acting." - Opera Canada

JUNE 2011

Sir Charles Mackerras: A Celebration in Music
Michael is honoured to join an incredible roster of international artists and the English National Opera chorus in a memorial concert paying tribute to the late Sir Charles Mackerras and his long and prolific association with ENO during his lifetime. Michael's own relationship with Sir Charles was fostered during his recent appearance as Peter Quint in ENO's 2009 production of TURN OF THE SCREW, directed by David McVicar. 

JUNE 2011

Peter Grimes @ The Royal Opera, Covent Garden 
Michael joins the roster of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as Bob Boles (cover) in a revival of Willy Decker's acclaimed production of Britten's PETER GRIMES. This production features world-renowned tenor Ben Heppner as Peter Grimes and famed British soprano Amanda Roocroft as Ellen Orford under the baton of conductor Sir Andrew Davis.  

MAY 2011

Another triumph at ENO - Britten's A Midsummer Nights' Dream 
Here are some recent reviews of Michael Colvin appearance as Flute/Thisby in English National Opera's new production of Britten's A Midsummer Nights' Dream (Christopher Alden, director and Leo Hussain, conductor): 

"Another notable performance came from Michael Colvin as Flute, who balanced a musical, ringing tenor with the hilarity this role requires." - Music OMH 

"Of the mechanicals, the robust tenor of Michael Colvin's Flute stood out" - Opera Magazine 

"Michael Colvin used his fine tenor to great effect as Flute, even better as an outrageous Thisbe" - Classical Source 

"The mechanicals, translated into school maintenance men, are somewhat tedious and their lewd sodomising and urinating diminish the humour, though all sing well, notably Flute (Michael Colvin)." - The Observer 

"There's lots of mooning from Simon Butteriss's Starveling... and thigh-flashing from Michael Colvin's excellent Flute as Thisbe, but her passion ends the play rather darkly as Puck pops up again to propose our mock-Lucia finish herself off.” - ArtsDesk.com 

"Indeed, the rustics in general were all very fine; Jonathan Veira's Quince and Michael Colvin's Flute were particularly excellent." - Musical Criticism 

"(Willard) White’s excellent portrayal of Bottom, blessed by a genuinely comic vocal delivery I have not heard in this artist before, was complemented by an equally excellent oddball assortment of rustics, from whom Michael Colvin’s Flute should be considered first amongst equals. The Donizetti parody truly hit home." - Scene and Heard International 

"from a musical perspective this is a distinguished evening… Michael Colvin and Simon Butteriss (Flute and Starveling) stand out among the Mechanicals." - Classical Source