"Paul Whelan sang the role, magnificently." George Hall, The Stage 25/02/2008 - "the part was taken by Paul Whelan, it is good to make mention of the (very tall!) Whelan's excellence." Scene and Heard, Musicweb international 27/02/2008 - "Sung very well by Paul Whelan" Richard Morrison, The Times 20/02/2008 - "Clive Bayley's lost voice made a first night star of understudy Paul Whelan, who sang wonderfully from the wings as his oily chaplain, Raimondo, vividly acted out the religious hypocrisy that seals Lucia's doom." Anthony Holden, The Observer, 24/02/2008 -"...the chaplain Raimondo, having lost his voice early on, hammed his part from the stage with his understudy, the excellent Paul Whelan, singing from the wings." Barry Millington, The Evening standard, 27/02/2008 - "Paul Whelan, who had come to rescue of an indisposed Clive Bayley part-way through the first night, deputised once again and delivered a solidly sung account and a disturbing dramatic one." Alexander Campbell, theclassicalsource.com - "The Weary Priest/King was beautifully sung by the statuesque Paul Whelan" - 'Opera' October 2006 .... "Paul Whelan sounded in sonorous voice. Vocally this was a very happy occasion". 'Opera' October 2006 .... "...bass baritone Paul Whelan-a fine dramatic singer with a powerful stage presence..." Time Magazine "Whelan must surely be destined for a distinguished career as a Wagner singer. As Amfortas, he was searingly intense both vocally and physically, making unexpected use of his height and long limbs to convey the character's suffering", The Listener .... “Unlike many bass voices, Whelan’s is a wonderously flexible, agile instrument, as surely pitched at one end of the register as the other, with kaleidoscopic tone colourings and an ability to sustain a legato line that most other basses would give their eye tooth to emulate.” Western Mail Australia ..... "Paul Whelan's Amfortas shows dignity and grace, with excellent singing. His distress from his wound conveyed with moving and emotionally affecting subtlety, in a very fine assumption of the role- a pointer I am sure to further Wagnerian roles". New Zealand Opera News."...Paul Whelan delivers a superb vocal performance as the refined count Almaviva..." London Sunday Times "...a very impressive Paul Whelan..." Scottish Mail "...Paul Whelan with his creamy baritone voice was delightful..." The Edinburgh Evening News "...Paul Whelan's towering bass acted as a magnificent anchor..." The Scotsman "..richly impressive, stentorian-toned..." The Australian "...Paul Whelan was magnificent..." Opera Now "...A rare treat..." The Evening Standard "...towering over them in physique and vocal powers is the splendid Paul Whelan..." Surrey Comet Group "...sensitive,resonant deep baritone..." Financial Times "...wonderfully clear diction as benefits a Cardiff Singer of the World..." Time Out "...Paul Whelan makes a striking Jesus, the tallest figure and the strongest voice..." Times Literary Supplement “…imposingly sung by Paul Whelan…” Opera Magazine “They sang superbly—particularly Paul Whelan as the Count, with his creamy baritone voice.” Opera Magazine “…excellent group of soloists, Paul Whelan was the best of all of them…” Corriere Della Sera “Paul Whelan used his towering stage presence and dramatic authority to capture the mercurial mood-shifts of his character.” The New Zealand Herald “mellifluous” Rupert ChristiansenThe Daily Telegraph “…a towering figure, charismatic yet strangely vulnerable, who inspires profound pity with his beautiful singing and the quiet dignity of his presence…” Hugh Canning The Sunday Times “Who could not be instantly involved with Whelan’s relaxed manner, his arresting phrasing, and softly beautiful tone?...the soloists, all very good, where cast into Paul Whelan’s long shadow….” New Zealand Press “...he is a graceful, lanky, boyishly handsome man who commands the stage. His voice is robust and pleasant…” The New York Times “Powerfully sung in magnificent baritone…testosterone personified, this was strong meat indeed…” The Bulletin “…sung formidably by the marvellous New Zealand-born baritone Paul Whelan…” Telegraph “His robust and eloquent voice described the essence of the character.” The National Business Review “…wholly operatic, richly atmospheric, and sung with melancholy eloquence by Paul Whelan…” The Scottish Herald “Paul Whelan magnificently gets to grips with the text’s ominous tread through love betrayal and murder…” the Daily Telegraph
website by TCG
