“Thomas appears as Otello: the tenor’s sonorous timbre flows effortlessly through the authoritarian outbursts of the Moor, with a certain panache and a freshness that is rarely heard from the singers at the end of the opera. Solid as a rock, he easily faces the last pages of the role with a ‘Niun mi tema’ more brilliant than painful.”
“Some of the most unforgettable performances simply transcended the occasion including tenor Russell Thomas’ thrillingly extroverted performance of ‘Odi il voto,’ an aria from Verdi’s Ernani that was being performed by the company for the first time.”
“At L.A. Opera, Russell Thomas is an Otello for our time. He is a compelling Otello who brings a sense of inner torment. His burnished tenor brings a heartbreaking beauty even to big, overwrought emotions. There was ringing beauty to his tenor and focus to his projection that allowed him to be heard and, better still, understood.”
“Calaf was amply represented by Russell Thomas and his high-quality spinto tenor. If there were moments when more sheer power was required, he rose boldly and successfully to the ‘Anything you can sing, I can sing higher’ sequence.”
“Thomas’s powerful tenor voice and emotional honesty were on display Saturday in a recital presented by Los Angeles Opera. He is a tenor whose middle and lower register are rich and deeply resonant.”
“An assured voice, solid highs, emitted with ease, and a great determination in front of his partner. In the third act, his great aria “O tu che in seno agli angeli,” which was interpreted with well-controlled legato and subtle nuances, moved the audience who gave him a nice ovation.”
“Thomas is an appealing, emotive Don Carlo; on Thursday, he sounded particularly noble (and ardent) at the higher end of his range. In house-filling phrases, Russell’s bright sound had a brassy, tossed-off assurance, with little sign of strain.”
“This physically quiet production regularly bursts into vocal fireworks at the hands of Russell Thomas (Ernani), who is singularly well-suited to this repertoire.”
