Bracegirdle, Michael - Tenor

 

Michael Bracegirdle as Jamie and Hrólfur Sæmundsson, who plays the colonel, not only sang well, but their acting was also fine.

…and the tenor Michael Bracegirdle, who brilliantly portrays younger brother Jamie's development from a despondent abuser to a reformed character.

 

Michael Bracegirdle’s passionate and determined Siegmund was another outstanding

contribution, navigating sensitively between the assured conviction of a proven hero, and the tragic uncertainty of a man abandoned by a father he never truly knew, constantly finding himself embroiled in quarrels he can neither justify nor solve. From an authoritative and mellifluous start, Bracegirdle went on to deliver a superb Siegmund full of integrity and honour. Bracegirdle’s lyrical tenor was well up to the challenge of the role; Winterstürme came across beautifully as Bracegirdle settled into its phrasing, and his cries of Wälse! had a fantastic sense of urgency.

 

The British tenor Michael Bracegirdle was as fine a Laca as I have ever seen. Vocally he reminded me of Philip Langridge, and he rose magnificently to the extra demands of the 1904 score; but he also has the physical attributes necessary for his louring presence to gnaw away at us before emerging as a sturdy but sensitive companion by the end.

- Opera (by Mark Audus – responsible for the recently revised Universal Edition)

 

 

 

Michael Bracegirdle was a magnificently imperious Judge Danforth…

 

 

 

...But the palm must go to the Don José of Michael Bracegirdle. Here is what the Italians call an ‘emergent voice’, smooth throughout its compass, with effortlessly ringing high notes that he can subdue to a fil di voce, suggesting that he might be one of the few tenors able to end ‘Celeste Aida’ in the way that Verdi intended...

 

 

 

Michael Bracegirdle possesses a supple, luminous timbre and is entirely convincing dramatically.

 

The confrontation of tenors turns to the advantage of Michael Bracegirdle, Laca, devoured by his bitterness, but who will ultimately find the light… imposes a convincing portrait with a mighty instrument.

 

The commitment of the performer allows him to reveal all the facets of his character, to express the goodness that lies behind its primary reactions.

 

The voices are all very good…. the obvious talent of Pavla Vykopalova (Jenůfa) and Michael Bracegirdle (Laca).

 

 

 

…Michael Bracegirdle played Boris with piercing bravado.

 

 

The performances are strong, especially Sadhbh Dennedy and Michael Bracegirdle - two stunning voices.

 

…Michael Bracegirdle was the most virile vet in operatic history.

 

 

As Cavaradossi, Michael Bracegirdle phrases his arias intelligently...

 

…Michael Bracegirdle was bracingly robust and never less than ardent…

 

…Michael Bracegirdle’s Cavaradossi seizes his vocal opportunities with some panache.

 

 

 

…a striking performance from Mike Bracegirdle as José.

 

…Michael Bracegirdle’s forthright Kudryash, a real match for his Varvara…

 

 

 

Michael Bracegirdle throws himself into his high-lying role with heroic abandon and cuts a rogueish figure.

 

 

 

...Michael Bracegirdle, a handsome, feckless Števa...

 

 

 

Another fine young English singer, tenor Michael Bracegirdle, makes the most of his opportunities as the poet Lensky, mustering as much power as finesse when roused, and savouring his great pre-duel aria...

 

There were strong performances, too, from Roland Wood as Onegin and Michael Bracegirdle as Lensky.

 

The immaculate English diction of Roland Wood's Onegin, Michael Bracegirdle's Lensky, gave consistent pleasure in Hackney's ideally proportioned auditorium…

 

 

Each of the four lovers boasts a terrific voice and vivid, contrasting personality...

 

 

…there’s some admirable singing from Michael Bracegirdle (Lysander)…

 

                    

 

Michael Bracegirdle as Malcolm has even less to do, but he did it very well indeed.

 

Michael Bracegirdle sang Malcolm with assurance and feeling for the situation.