Reviews
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Call of the huia recital | New Zealand Opera
“Sewell produced some ravishing mezza voce to cap off this expression of almost Straussian sensuality, as he also did in the very different word-painting in Owen Jensen’s ghostly In the Fountain Court.”
Simon Holden
bachtrack.com
August 16, 2022
“Tenor Oliver Sewell instantly puts us at ease with his beautiful, liquid tone, whilst drawing us in to the youthful passion of Gordon McBeth’s ‘All on a Summer’s Day... Both the intense word-painting in Bernard Page’s ‘Your Grave Gray Eyes, and the nostalgic German text of Richard Fuchs’ ‘In der Fremde’ are deeply portrayed by Sewell. His high notes are sublime near the end of Owen Jensen’s ‘In the Fountian Court, his combination of technical control and fluidity of expression once again melting our hearts. He pulls out all the stops with his final phrases, “and let my own, my lovely lady pass”, causing the audience to break the etiquette of waiting until the end of each bracket to applaud.”
Pepe Becker
Theatreview.co.nz
August 8, 2022
Don Giovanni | Wellington Opera
“Oliver Sewell (Don Ottavio) has a beautiful tenor voice and his Act 1 aria “Dalla sua pace la mia dipende” (“On her peace my peace depends”) won the audience over with his believable love for Donna Anna.”
Elizabeth Kerr
Fivelines.nz
April 20, 2021
“tenor Oliver Sewell gave some of the finest singing of the evening in his two difficult arias, vocally secure and unfailingly lyrical.”
Roger Wilson
Dominion Post
April 21, 2021
La gazza Ladra | Teatro Nuovo (Giannetto)
Equally impressive was Oliver Sewell as Gianetto. His dulcet tenor is perfect for Rossini, and he navigated the coloratura of his big entrance aria “Vieni, fra queste braccia” and its attendant cabaletta “Ma quel placer adesso” without any problem, high notes firm and perfectly placed.”
Charles Jernigan
Rossini America
August 5, 2019
“Tenor Oliver Sewell served up vocal glamour as Giannetto...”
Rick Perdian
Seen and Heard International
July 23, 2019
“Oliver Sewell’s singing as Giannetto had a welcome virility and he affectingly conveyed the character's sudden heartache in the Act 1 finale.”
OPERA NEWS
July, 2019
“Oliver Sewell sang the role of Ninetta’s lover, Giannetto. His first scene was quite memorable: As the surrounding party was dimmed out, the newly-returned soldier took his time to gaze lovingly into the eyes of his Ninetta, before warmly coaxing her into his arms with a passionate rendition of “Vieni fra queste braccia.””
Nicole Kuchta
operawire.com
July 30, 2019
La traviata | Academy of Vocal Arts
“the lovely, burnished tone color, natural sense of line, and unstinting generosity were reward enough.”
David Fox
Phillymag.com
April 23, 2018
Dangerous Liaisons | Manhattan School of Music
“the tenor Oliver Sewell (plangent as the misled Danceny).”
Zachary Woolfe
New York Times
December 10, 2015
“Oliver Sewell sang with a bright, forward tenor as Chevalier de Danceny”
Joanne Sydney Lessner
OPERA NEWS
December, 2015
“Tenor Oliver Sewell was adorable as Danceny... He's cute and has a strong, plangent voice.”
divamensch.blogspot.com
December, 2015
Le roi la dit | Manhattan School of Music
“...and Oliver Sewell as Benoît—stood out for their warm and pleasing voices”
OPERA NEWS