Soprano Anna Devin and countertenor Christopher Lowrey premiered the Internationale Händel Festspiele Göttingen 2018 opera, Handel’s Arminio, last Saturday to critical acclaim.
Catriona Graham of The Opera Critic writes, “Christopher Lowrey, as Arminio, quite magnificently loses his temper… His singing is excellent, expressing the range of emotions Arminio works through to reach his victory at the end… Anna Devin (Tusnelda) acts as well as sings beautifully.”
HNA writes, “…countertenor Christopher Lowrey, who as Arminio is stuck in the dungeon for long stretches, convinces with virtuosity ranging between nobility and coloratura quivering with rage and madness. His sweetheart Tusnelda, sung by the Irishwoman Anna Devin with a strong soprano, particularly touches with intimate nuances.”
Elisabeth Richter (Kieler Nachrichten) said, “Singer-wise, the production was a singular celebration: Technically excellent the countertenor Christopher Lowrey as Arminio, impressive the flexible soprano Anna Devin (Tusnelda)”
Goettinger Tageblatt were full of praise for Ms Devin, writing: “The women in this opera are not only powerful engines of action, they also dominate musically. There is the velvet, yet enormously powerful and wonderfully mobile soprano Anna Devin (Tusnelda), who is able to enchant the listeners with her gossamer piano passages…”
Of Christopher Lowrey, they said, “…Christopher Lowrey (Arminio) has a lot of such qualities to offer, and his timbre has a moving softness that can also be used to create impressive dynamic climaxes.”
Jens Klier (Bachtrack) writes in his 4 star review, “Countertenor Christopher Lowrey sometimes adorned Arminio’s not-so-serious public image and self image with soft and pure sublimity…with expressiveness, phrasing and bravura intelligibility… Anna Devin responded as Tusnelda… always expressing a determination with her gallant and strong soprano.”
Following this run of performances, Christopher Lowrey will sing in Handel’s Rinaldo at Theater Basel with Les Talens Lyriques, then join them for a concert tour with Sandrine Piau. Anna Devin will next appear as Michal in Handel’s Saul this summer at Glyndebourne.
Photo credit: Alciro Theodoro Da Silva
