“As Elisabeth, Samantha Crawford was also inspired casting. She has the innocent presence and unconstricted soprano radiance perfect for this and other Wagner roles; the silvery gleam in her voice produced a trumpet- like ‘Dich, teure Halle’, and then she sang a beautifully remote prayer to the Jungfrau…She engaged with the role, and it was thrilling.”
OPERA
“In Cavalleria rusticana Alexey Dolgov’s superb Tenor as Turiddu rubs shoulders with Samantha Crawford’s beautiful soprano as Santuzza”
MUSICOMH
“This witty, poignant and candid recital of songs centring on female experiences has to be one of the most arresting recording-debuts I’ve heard all year: Crawford’s big, bright voice packs a tremendous punch, with diction always crystal-clear and plenty of bite when required (which is often).”
PRESTO MUSIC, EDITOR’S CHOICE
“Expectations were high for what turned out to be a truly engaging evening of superb Wagner singing. Stuart Skelton was ably partnered by Samantha Crawford singing Sieglinde in the role of Siegmund… The singing was outstanding.”
LIMELIGHT
“Samantha Crawford’s Agathe displayed impressive Wagnerian credentials. On this showing her sweetly voluminous soprano should be soon graduating to Elsa.”
OPERA
“Both casts deliver the vocal goods. In Cavalleria, Samantha Crawford voices the desperation of excommunicated Santuzza.”
THE STAGE
“It is worth mentioning the work of the eight Valkyries whose voice matched perfectly and followed the orchestra in difficult passages, especially when they were begging to Wotan to forgive their sister…Ultimately, it was an amazing production.”
OPERAWIRE
“Crawford used her gleaming soprano to convey all of the son’s love and admiration for his mother’s courage, forbearance and generosity, her voice shimmering with the unspoken tragedy of the sacrifices made.”
OPERA TODAY
“Bray’s music is challenging yet accessible, evocative, and filled with drama to complement the text. The scope of the vocal part wonderfully showcased Crawford’s range and technical prowess as well as her expert ability as a storyteller, which was central to the success of tonight’s lyrically-dense programme.”
CROSSING FAULTLINES PREMIERE – DAILY INFO
“Samantha Crawford was a star turn as the Countess, singing both her arias with Mozartian colour and grace. She was excellent.”
OPERA
“Samantha Crawford switched from a classy Rosalinde with cut-glass vowels to the mysterious Hungarian Countess and delivered her csárdás with style.”
OPERA
“Samantha Crawford made a young and personable Santuzza. Crawford has started singing the jugend-dramatisch Wagner roles, but her voice still felt lithe and light, suiting the youth of the character…Overall this was an engaging and sympathetic performance…Crawford made Santuzza youthfully impulsive and her narration to Sarah Pring’s Mamma Lucia explaining the situation was wonderfully expressive.”
PLANET HUGILL
“A flawless ensemble…Samantha Crawford’s Mrs Coyle, crystalline of tone and diction.”
THE ARTS DESK
“The Valkyries were superb…In fact this was one of the finest performances of this work we’ve heard live in the theatre.”
MUSIC OMH
“The entire cast was cheered by the public, but Stuart Skelton in the role of Siegmund was the most acclaimed. Along with him, were René Pape (Hunding), Tomasz Konieczny (the god Wotan), Adrianne Pieczonka (Sieglinde), Ricarda Merbeth (Brünnilde), Daniela Sindram (Fricka), Julie Davies (Gerhilde), Samantha Crawford (Ortlinde) and Sandra Ferrández (Waltraute).”
EL BOLETIN
“One comes to events like these listening out for stars of the future, and several of the voices impressed…with Samantha Crawford making the most of her central role as Popelka the village beauty.”
BACHTRACK
“Samantha Crawford made a deliciously scheming Countess, her superficialities belying her cunning. “Dove sono i bei momenti” was sensitively executed and a particular highlight of the evening…it was a bold and enjoyable performance, and credit is due both to the production staff and the singers for making it so visually, musically and dramatically exciting.”
BACHTRACK
“Samantha Crawford leads a strong, vividly characterised cast, in a drama piquant of scoring and delicious Czech satire, absurdity and poignancy.”
THE TIMES
“Samantha Crawford elegant, as Coyle’s wife.”
FINANCIAL TIMES
“Samantha Crawford charmed in “Schmerzen,” and “Einsam in trüben Tagen,” before giving herself to a moving and passionate “O Sachs! Mein Freund.”…Sir John Tomlinson picked out Crawford’s ‘radiant’ Eva.”
WAGNER NEWS
“There are no weak links anywhere in the cast, either, though Ross Ramgobin’s thoughtful Owen, Jonathan Summer’s sympathetic Spencer Coyle, Samantha Crawford’s humane Mrs Coyle and Janis Kelly’s Mrs Julian are particularly notable.”
THE STAGE
“Samantha Crawford, blond bombshell Agathe, holds on to hope even in the face of horrible dreams foreshadowing her death.”
CLASSICAL SOURCE
“The performance was wonderful. Semyon Bychkov gave a concentrated reading which was attentive to the architecture of the work and drew excellent performances from orchestra and choir, and the Blumenmädchen…without doubt, the public recognized that this was a performance of the top international level.”
LA RAZON
“Semyon Bychkov drew some electrifying playing from the orchestra of the Teatro Real…With full-blooded singing from the Real’s Chorus and a mellifluous bevy of Blumenmädchen, this was a memorable performance.”
MUSIC OMH
“As Mrs Coyle, Samantha Crawford’s clear, graceful soprano did provide a warm, compassionate counter-hue to her husband’s assertiveness, and Crawford’s characterisation was convincing and rounded.”
SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL
