| CD - A WAGNER PORTRAIT |
| His career began relatively late which has clearly been advantageous in conquering the difficult Wagner parts. I am referring to JT the tenor from Cornwall who now has recorded Wagner scenes with the Slovakian Radio Orchestra conducted by Ivan Anguelov. The brightly timbred, constantly pure intonation led voice with lyrical mellifluousness and secure, shining power at the top/high notes proves himself in the classic tenor parts like Lohengrin, Rienzi, Stolzing and Parsifal………particularly impressive were the scenes from „Tannhäuser“ like for example the Rome Narration; here the hero tenor shows his distinctive creative ability. |
| Orpheus |
| … one hears just how much the artist, with his slim, enduring tenor voice, is able to express. The extreme lyrical moments are fascinating, such as the transfigured, quiet beginning of the Grail Narration, the transcendent Song of the Swan, or the completely spiritualised moments of Rienzi’s Prayer or in the scene “Amfortas! Die Wunde!” (Amfortas! The Wound!”) - dramatic sections are always sure and clear. What really arouses amazement, is Treleaven’s superior, confident technique, that allows him to master Walther von Stolzing’s difficult solos or Tannhäuser’s “Dir töne Lob” and “Zum Heil den Sündigen zu führen” effortlessly and totally concentrated on the inherent message. Not only in the thrilling “Romerzählung” (Tale of Rome) does his excellent German diction please us, which makes it clear to us, that he understands these gigantic roles down to their very depths. For the fans of this likeable singer, a definite plus ! |
Der Neue Merker |
| TRISTAN DVD |
| The cast can hardly be surpassed today. John Treleaven is the best Tristan for decades. Even with the fevered delirium in the last act he shows no sign of fatigue and controls his baritone based, virile heldentenor very cleverly and always according to the text. |
| Fono Forum 04/2006 |
| His declamatory conciseness is remarkable and hardly anyone elevates “O König, das kann ich dir nicht sagen” in such a hauntingly restrained way as he does. The third act shows Treleaven in excellent form – he masters Tristan’s lament with technical supremacy and great expressiveness. |
| Opernglas 03/2006 |
| Anyone wishing to know exactly what happens in Tristan and Isolde can, in a manner of speaking, look closely into their souls through the expressive faces of John Treleaven and Deborah Polaski. It is rare to find so much visual insight added to the force of Wagner’s musical expression. The growing mutual fascination which inexorably draws the lovers, how they simply stand there quietly after taking the potion, gaze at each other and with their glances show their complete inner transformation that has just taken place, liberated yet at the same time forever bound, all this is immensely moving. It is also rare to be able to understand every word in “Tristan” and this is helped by being able to see the singers mouths. The singing is excellent throughout. The lovers really elicit the utmost expression from these roles, from the apparent distance at the beginning through a blessed abandon to the bitter sweet end. This DVD certainly offers a wonderful chance to absorb Wagner’s most important work in the comfort of ones home. |
| Der Neue Merker |
