North Carolina Opera

"Another delightful evening of arias at the New Year's First Night event inside the warm accommodating Edenton Church ... (so why would anyone be outside freezing?) ... and I must say the local performers outdid themselves this year! In no way to discount from other performers, John Cashwell (who already has the advantage of being the tenor) showed an amazing growth in his voice, with a refined vibrato and rich tonality, the kind that makes every man, woman and child swoon by its beauty. Mezzo Jennifer Seiger also showed a fuller richer voice this year, complete with opera buffa dramatics in Offenbach's "Ah Quel Diner" - - reminiscent of a former year's memorable Carmen - - yes, the audience does want the whole thing, and we are so pleased you have it all! Kathryn Lewis at the piano added much more than a basic accompaniment while with care of blending into the performance. I heard for the first time Bass Baritone Gene Galvin or Soprano Julianna Taushinger-Dempsey, who gave performances of high quality for an overall stunning event to bring in the New Year on precisely the right note. An excellent representation of NC Opera's caliber of art and entertainment."