Der Rosenkavalier at Carnegie Hall
“Angela Brower sang Octavian with plush, full sound, yet also youthful brightness and flashes of cocky energy.”
“The role of Octavian, played by Angela Brower was the perfect match, as she coyly and youthfully acted in any given moment. Brower naturally carried a glowing light while she sang and as Strauss’ longest ever written opera progressed late into the night, she blossomed and transformed with every phrase.”
“The role doesn’t really shine vocally until the opera’s closing trio and love duet, when Brower carried her part splendidly.”
“Of all the excellence onstage, we were most impressed with the Octavian of American mezzo-soprano Angela Brower. Her rich resonant instrument filled Carnegie Hall from stage to balcony and her acting was totally convincing. She needed no costuming but used her body to emulate a 17-year-old boy. When she was called upon to portray Mariandel (a joke on Baron Ochs) she needed no women’s weeds to effect the transformation and successfully imitated a rural dialect. She was able to create great chemistry with both Ms. Pieczonka and Ms. Müller.”
“Brower, on the other hand, brought a wealth of nuance to her pugnacious and eager yet fragile Rofrano. Her sizable high mezzo easily handled the role’s challenging extremes with the top often taking on a glinting shine. An inventive actress she was vividly alive to the constantly shifting world around her and quick to react.”
Parterre
“In the title role, American mezzo Angela Brower sang with pure, supported tone over the course of the long evening. In billowing trousers, she also acted the role tirelessly.”