Emma Curtis, Contralto


				Emma Curtis Contralto
				Deutsch

				Opera News - Sound Bites, August 2007 Calliope, Beautiful Voice, Volume the First English Songbooks of the 1700s (AV 2102) "a lovingly packaged programme ... Across the recital Curtis employs an impressive array of vocal colours ... her deeper register is outstanding. The fact that she occaisionally sounds like a tenor comes in useful. There is also beautifully crafted melancholy. These diverting and entertaining songs fully deserve their new lease of life"- Gramophone "This is a charming recording. Emma Curtis possesses a voice type commonly held to be an endangered species these days: she is a true contralto. Like Ewa Podles, who nevertheless sounds quite different, she has a huge range, and also amazing flexibility.. a highly proficient and entertaining young singer" - Sandra Bowdler, The Opera Critic "Emma Curtis's voice finds much scope for its innate versatility." - The Independent Album of the Week "we are much indebted to contralto Emma Curtis and The Frolick for bringing English eighteenth-century domestic music-making so vividly to life.. Curtis demonstrates her remarkable vocal range in songs like 'A Favourite Aire in Ariadne' by Mr. Handel and her equally remarkable dramatic range in the many character pieces.. In between are songs rendered with great beauty and delicacy." Robert Levett, International Record Review "Engaging, intelligent performances of little-known English songs...hugely enjoyable..Emma Curtis sings with both appropriate gusto and fitting delicacy, with both humour and subtlety, as she explores the range of attitudes and emotions to be found amongst these songs....Her theatrical experience and her versatility serve her well." - Glyn Pursglove, MusicWeb Curtis is the type of presenter who overflows with both knowledge and enthusiasm for her subject, and she is extraordinarily successful here in taking the listener into the world she knows...delivered with maximum effectiveness by Curtis, who sings directly and clearly in a voice that one imagines was perfectly appropriate for the London drawing-rooms in which these songs would originally have been performed -- the voice of a young and talented stage actress. This is apparently the first volume of an eventual set; one awaits subsequent releases as Phyllis awaits her handsome swain -- with bated breath. James Manheim, All Music Guide - Winner Best Classical Vocal 2006 Cavalli Giasone, Aspen Music Festival, Harry Bicket "A talented group of singing actors... a fact evident from the strong casting of "Giasone". Emma Curtis, a statuesque contralto with a luscious lower range, sings Giasone." - New York Times "Committed performances by a brilliant cast. Singing and acting was of such high quality.. an admirable level of vocal prowess. Emma Curtis sang Jason (Giasone) with restraint and a purtiy of tone that drew her audience in. The stressful shenanigans of Jason as he carried on with two queens clearly took its toll in real [dramatic] fashion." - Rocky Mountain News "Imported contralto Emma Curtis does not try to be unquestionably masculine in this trouser role, but she does convey the callous and fickle way Giasone approaches women. Curtis' wry facial expressions and studiously studly moves make the role come alive. Her voice is dark enough to suggest a male, and she uses it with fine effect, moving easily between impassioned pleas and almost conversational banter." - The Denver Post Handel Atalanta International Handel-Festival, Göttingen, Nicholas McGegan "The four leads were cast well, some even very well. Dominique Labelle as Atalanta sang colorfully, filling the room. Emma Curtis turned the shepherdess Irene into a veritable vocal competitor of the Princess of Arcadia. Her acting was by far superior, and with her flexible singing, she definitely reached Labelle's level." - Opernwelt "The singers' laurel goes to contralto Emma Curtis, with amazing vocal presence as the coquettish shepherdess Irene." - HNA (Kassel, Germany) "The musicians and singers earned unanimous storming applause...rightfully so: Michael Slattery (tenor) and Emma Curtis (contralto) for a hilariously over-the top, beautifully sung Aminta and an enchanting Irene." - Rheinische Post "Down into scarcely believable depths reaches the voluminous, but agile contralto voice of Emma Curtis (Irene)." - Göttinger Tagesblatt "Susan Rydén, soprano, and Emma Curtis, contralto, have many glorious moments. Enthusiastic applause for the entire cast" - Braunschweiger Zeitungsverlag Atalanta Photos Handel la Resurrezione The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock "Recitative was also the strong point of Emma Curtis, whose Mary Cleophas was distinguished by her lovely, burnished tone and serene manner: she was a discovery for me, a truly balanced middle register and a secure low range being far thinner on the ground than one might imagine, and she was a treasure in the ensembles." - Seen & Heard Handel Rodelinda Music Academy of the West, Randall Behr "the fine young British contralto Emma Curtis performed the male role [Bertarido] to dazzling, and slightly disarming, effect." - Opera Now "Ms. Curtis earned a solid thumbs up for lovely singing and a moving portrayal. Her Vivi tiranno was certainly a powerful, rousing, crowd-stirring hit." - Santa Barbara News "On Saturday the Bertarido role was sung by the gifted English contralto Emma Curtis, adding an air of gender ambivalence during the love scenes." - Los Angeles Times .

	photo:©Dorothea Heise +49 163 437 3437

Emma Curtis Contralto

Emma Curtis
Contralto