reviews Wotan
WALKUERE, La Scala, Milano
„This was the third time I've heard Vitalij Kowaljow's Wotan this year, and it was unquestionably the finest. Barenboim's flexible tempi and emotional penetration and the simplicity of the production made it possible for him to achieve a truly great Wotan. In Dresden last spring, the weak support he received from his conductor, John Fiore, compromised his performance. In Los Angeles, he was burdened by Achim Freyer's massive costumes and masks, which totally encased his head and body on stage. Here, in the relatively light costume he wore, he was free to sing and move about the stage, and Barenboim gave him plenty of space to mine his phrases for the deepest expressiveness and meaning. His voice showed a bright, but softly textured top, which enabled him to bring out the lyrical aspect of his lines, as well as Wotan's tragic vulnerability and feeling. This was very much in the spirit of Hans Hotter's great Wotan... Kowaljow was able to delve exceptionally deeply into the feelings of his tragic character, as he loses those who are dearest to him.“ Michael Miller, January 2.2011 Berkeshirereview.net
„The replacement of René Pape by Vitalij Kowaljow as Wotan had already been announced at the beginning of the rehearsals. Those who may have been disappointed at this announcement realised that there was no need for worry as soon as the bass started singing. Perfectly at ease with the demanding score, Kowaljow can rely on great power of sound and perfect appoggio, which allowed him to reach the end of the performance with the same freshness as at the beginning.“
Silvia Luraghi. The Opera Critic, 9.12.2010
"Ma la grandezza degli interpreti si riconosce soprattutto nella capacità di far comprendere nella sua complessità e ricchezza l’intero flusso drammatico-musicale creato da Wagner.
Un solo esempio: una pagina spesso discussa, la lunga riflessione (quasi monologo interiore) che Wotan rivolge a Brünnhilde nel secondo atto, interpretata da Barenboim e da Vitalij Kowaljow, non conosceva alcuna caduta di tensione, era davvero la desolata confessione di una sconfitta, in cui ogni parola e ogni dettaglio musicale avevano un nitido rilievo. Ho citato subito la poderosa interpretazione di Kowaljow (un ucraino che vive in Svizzera e possiede il tedesco quasi come una lingua madre), perché Wotan è il protagonista centrale della Walkiria."
LÙnita, Paolo Petazzi, 8 dicembre 2010
RING, Los Angeles
„Kowaljow, a basso cantante, leaves little doubt that he is the first great Wotan of the post-Hotter Wagnerian world. His magnificent voice, which he employs with total ease, is rich in colors and shadings and capable of every nuance.“ Wes Blomster, Opera Today
„The bass Vitalij Kowaljow was a vocally formidable Wotan.“ Anthony Tomassini, October 8.2009, NY Times
„Vitalij Kowaljow wartet als Wotan mit einem imposanten Bassbariton und sehr guten Höhen auf.“
Klaus Billand, Der neue Merker
„Davon waren auch die Sänger nicht weit entfernt. Aus einer verlässlichen Besetzung ragte der herrlich breit-düstere Vitalij Kowaljow (Wotan)“
Wiener Zeitung, Stephan Burianek
„Vitalij Kowaljow (The Wanderer) has a rich chocolaty sound with authority. He is one of the reasons to attend this “Ring.”
„Hearing the duets between Kowaljow and Grove, and Kowaljow and Watson made me glad that I wasn’t one of those who had walked out.“ Carrie J.Delmer, Opera Online
„The Wotan/Wanderer was extremely fine – Ukrainian bass Vitalji Kowaljow. His voice has a beautiful, polished resonance, and he was able to infuse each utterance with a sense of meaning and emotional truth.“ David Gregson, September 27.2009, Opera West
„Vitalij Kowaljow, back as The Wanderer (Wotan), proved as eloquent and imposing as ever, all creamy power.“ Timothy Mangan, OCRegister, September 27.2009
„This website has promoted recognition of what we call bel canto Wagnerian singing. The Los Angeles Opera’s general manager, Placido Domingo, belongs on the shortest of lists of history’s greatest bel cantoWagnerian tenors. This cast of “Siegfried”, led by Cornish heldentenor John Treleaven’s Siegfried and Ukrainian basso cantate Vitalij Kowaljow’s Wanderer, uniformly met this criterion.“ September 27.2009, William's Reviews,
„The scene between Vitalij Kowaljow’s Wanderer (Wotan come to earth) and Jill Grove’s Erda was powerful and deeply moving.“ Los Angeles Times, Mark Swed, September 26.2009