Press

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  13 Oct 19 DONIZETTI L'elisir d'amore
  Glyndebourne on Tour

  “The quest for love is brought about quicker after the arrival of Sergeant Belcore – played by the talented Matthew Durkan… The Glyndebourne cast hit the perfect mix of high standard voices, acting and performance perfection, comic timing and character looks.”
  Jayne Wiggins, What’s Good To Do, 13 November 2019

  “Matthew Durkan has the ideal physique for the swaggering Belcore, tall and burly, and he makes the most of it, inserting himself forcefully into the action and presenting an excellent contract to Nemorino.”
  Dominic Lowe, Bachtrack, 15 October 2019

  “Matthew Durkan as Belcore swaggers convincingly.”
  Amanda-Jane Doran, Classic Source, 13 October 2019

  “Matthew Durkan is brilliantly pompous and self confident, handsome and bold and every inch the arrogant suitor.”
  Andrew Kay, The Latest Brighton, 14 October 2019

  “Arden has balanced the piece’s opposing elements astutely, while the individual characterisations are well-nigh faultless, founded, as they must be, on secure and vital vocalism…
  Matthew Durkan is the bumptious solider Belcore, who places too much reliance on his manly charms before getting his comeuppance.”
  George Hall, The Stage, 18 October 2019

  “Matthew Durkan is perfect as Belcore, who is still engaging despite his arrogance and bluster. (There are no real villains in this story!)”
  Alan Smith, Kent Online, 06 November 2019

  “…Sergeant Belcore, was sung with bluster by Matthew Durkan.”
  Rian Evans, The Guardian, 03 September 2019

  “…Matthew Durkan, as the preening Sergeant Belcore, proves baritones can do coloratura too.”
  Amanda Holloway, The Stage, 02 September 2019

  “Abetted by pitch-perfect buffo work from Kiria…and from Matthew Durkan as the posturing Belcore, Glassberg’s debut outing with the Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra shone.”
  Mark Valencia, Opera Magazine Volume 70 No. 12

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  08 May 19 BRITTEN A Midsummer Night's Dream
  L'Opéra de Montpellier

  “Un autre ensemble vocal équilibré est formé par le quatuor des amants. Les personnages de commedia dell’arte relèvent une écriture intense en drame. La tension est quasiment omniprésente entre les deux couples : Helena de Marie-Adeline Henry par son ample voix de poitrine en colère contre le volumineux baryton Demetrius (Matthew Durkan) et le ténor étoffé de Lysander (Thomas Atkins) en uniformes de soldats, soudainement épris d’elle.”
  Vojin Jaglicic, Atelier de Tourcoing Lyrique, 10 May 2019

  “Lysander (prise de rôle de Thomas Atkins) possède un art fourni de la gravure sonore et exaltée, et Demetrius (Matthew Durkan) projette par sa voix et sa présence scénique la bonhomie du personnage.”
  Thibault Vicq, Opera Online, 08 May 2019

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  03 Sep 18 BRITTEN Paul Bunyan
  English National Opera at Wilton's Music Hall

  ”

  William Morgan (Slim) and Matthew Durkan (Hel Helson) bought similar vigour and flair to their emotionally less substantial opportunities.”
  Yehuda Shapiro, Opera, November 2018

  “Matthew Durkan was engaging as the gauche lumberjack Hel Helson…”
  Roy Westbrook, Bach Track, 4 September 2018

  “Matthew Durkan as discontented Helson offers a strong baritone presence…”
  David Nice, The Arts Desk, 5 September 2018

  “There are impeccably sung turns by Fflur Wyn as Fido, David Newman as an entertainingly stuttery Western Union Boy and Matthew Durkan as Hel Helson…”
  Mark Valencia, Whats On Stage, 6 September 2018

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  11 Jun 18 HANDEL Acis and Galatea
  English National Opera at Lilian Baylis House

  “The young soloists are excellent, particularly the men…Matthew Durkan finds real tenderness in the role of Polyphemus.”
  Nick Kimberley, Evening Standard, 12 June 2018

  “Alexander Sprague’s preening Acis is a great contrast to Matthew Durkan’s pitiable, lumbering Polyphemus, his mournful baritone a highlight of the show.”
  Tim Bano, The Stage, 12 June 2018

  “Durkan’s performance leans Polyphemus the air of Shakespeare’s taunted and much-maligned Malvolio, inducing a pang of sympathy.”
  Nick Breckenfield, Classical Source, 11 June 2018

  “Polyphemus (Matthew Durkan) is less mythic monster than socially awkward and romantically inept colleague, cruelly humiliated and ostracised by his co-workers and even the conductor; he makes the cardinal mistake of being the first one to arrive, alone, to the party, fidgeting with his beer accompanied by the nervously hyperactive opening Sinfonia. Durkan’s voice, which channels both vulnerability and fury, was a vehicle for considerable pathos, and his giant on the tragic side of Handel’s tragicomedy.”
  Benjamin Poore, Bachtrack, 12 June 2018

  “Though this Polyphemus was no monstrous Cyclops, Matthew Durkan injected some beguiling darkness into his baritone.”
  Claire Seymour, Opera Today, 13 June 2018

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  02 Mar 18 BRITTEN A Midsummer Night's Dream
  English National Opera

  “Five members of ENO’s Harewood Artists Programme took part, including Soraya Mafi (excellent as Tytania), with fine performances also from Eleanor Dennis (Helena), Matthew Durkan (Demetrius), David Webb (Lysander) and Andri Björn Róbertsson (Theseus).”
  Barry Millington, Evening Standard, 2 March 2018

  “Matthew Durkan was a solid Demetrius.”
  Erica Jeal, Opera, May 2018

  “With several ENO Harewood artists in the cast…Matthew Durkan and Eleanor Dennis (memorable as Malcolm and Laura Fleet in ENO’s recent Marnie) shone as Demetrius and Helena.”
  Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian, 11 March 2018

  “Clare Presland as Hermia, David Webb as Lysander, Matthew Durkan as Demetrius and Eleanor Dennis as Helena made a lovely, well-characterised group of lovers…”
  Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill, 3 March 2018

  “Tenor David Webb and baritone Matthew Durkan were a persuasively lyrical pair of lovers as Lysander and Demetrius respectively…”
  Mark Valencia, Whats On Stage, 2 March 2018

  “Eleanor Dennis’s spitfire Helena ensures that the weather in the parallel relationships of the young lovers – Clare Pressland, David Webb, and Matthew Durkan being the others…”
  Michael Church, Independent, 2 March 2018

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  16 Mar 17 HANDEL Partenope
  English National Opera

  “Durkan made the most of his spiky beard and camp characterisation in the under-written role of Ormonte.”
  Hugh Canning, Opera, May 2017

  “What gives the evening consistency are the cast’s excellent vocal skills, which enable them to tackle Handel’s virtuosic writing with aplomb … Matthew Durkan is resolute as Partenope’s loyal supporter, Ormonte.”
  George Hall, The Stage, 16 March 2017

  “Matthew Durkan showed the best control of the coloratura in the bass role of Ormonte.”
  David Karlin, Bachtrack, 16 March 2017

  “Matthew Durkan display[s] comic flair as the fall guy Ormonte.”
  Rupert Christiansen, The Telegraph, 16 March 2017

  “Matthew Durkan fills out the lesser role of Ormonte, Partenope’s manservant, with a cavalcade of bearded camp.”
  Mark Valencia, What’s on Stage, 16 March 2017

  “[a] burly deliciously camp Ormonte (Matthew Durkan)”
  Cara Chanteau, The Independent, 17 March 2017

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  08 Feb 17 VERDI Rigoletto
  English National Opera

  “Matthew Durkan’s Marullo added to the unpleasantness of the Duke’s ‘court’.”
  Peter Reed, Classical Source, 02 February 2017

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  03 Aug 16 HANDEL Alcina
  Longborough Festival Opera

  “Matthew Durkan dressed as a real magician complete with top hat offered good solid support to the more emotionally entangled characters.”
  Roger Jones, Scene and Heard, 01 August 2016

  “Matthew Durkan (Melisso) held up [his] relatively small role with vigour and assurance.”
  Roger Parker, Opera, October 2016

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  20 May 16 PUCCINI Madam Butterfly
  English National Opera

  “Matthew Durkan’s dignified Yamadori, achieves [its] proper impact.”
  George Hall, The Stage, 18 May 2016

  “Matthew Durkan’s Yamadori impressed among the minor roles.”
  Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack, 17 May 2016

  “Matthew Durkan executes Prince Yamadori’s scene very well, entering proud and haughty but leaving heart broken. In between, there is a split second in which he stares into Cio-Cio-San’s eyes that makes us feel that this whole affair might turn out very differently, but alas this moment of potential ‘reprieve’ proves to be over just as soon as it has begun.”
  Sam Smith, MusicOHM, 18 May 2016

  “There is notable work, too, from Matthew Durkan as Prince Yamadori.”
  Mark Vallencia, What’s on Stage, 17 May 2016

  “Matthew Durkan was excellent as Prince Yamadori, a regal presence in red and gold.”
  John E.de Wald, Opera Britannia, 20 May 2016

  “Matthew Durkan successfully took on Yamadori for the first time.”
  Russ McDonald, Opera, August 2016

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  10 Mar 16 MOZART Don Giovanni
  Opéra de Rouen Haute Normandie

  “Beau garçon, Matthew Durkan lui donne correctement la réplique en Masetto.”
  Brigitte Cormier, Forumopera, 26 February 2016

  “Masetto, malgré son apparence d’un jeune viveur, obéit toujours à sa belle. Matthew Durkan, basse britannique, forme un beau couple vocal avec Zerlina par contraste.”
  Victoria Okada, ResMusica, 06 March 2016

  “Matthew Durkan…campe un Masetto balourd à souhait, mais attachant.”
  Olyrix, 26 February 2016

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  30 Sep 15 ROSSINI The Barber of Seville
  English National Opera
  “British baritone Matthew Durkan, making his ENO debut (a former member of ENO Opera Works and, from 2015/16, a member of the ENO Harewood Artists’ Scheme). Durkan is a fine, fresh Fiorello and on present evidence promises much.”
  Colin Clarke, Seen and Heard International, 30 September 2015

  “Fiorello, confidently played by baritone Matthew Durkan.”
  Claire Seymour, Opera Today, 05 October 2015
  

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  03 Aug 15 HANDEL Xerxes
  Longborough Festival Opera

  “Matthew Durkan’s comical servant Elviro serving as a wisecracking janitor.”
  Richard Bratby, Birmingham Post, 29 July 2015

  “Matthew Durkan played Elviro, one of the few genuinely comic roles which Handel wrote and Durkan clearly has a great gift for comedy. He was able to use his stature to brilliant comic effect [and] made Elviro a charming oaf, and gave us some finely characterful singing along the way, as well as making a hilarious appearance in drag.”
  Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill, 01 August 2015