The Angel in THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS

BBC Proms

“Swathed in enough gold lamé to lighten anyone’s darkness, the star American mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton turns out to be the kind of supernatural being a newly dead soul might hope to meet as they enter purgatory. Barton’s Angel, sung with glowing power, had both gravity and humanity.”
–Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian

“Barton brought her gloriously creamy voice to the Angel role to give us moments of sheer delight – her final ‘Softly and gently’ released the tears, and her earlier exultant ‘Alleluia’ rang the rafters, demonstrating that her extraordinarily rich vocal tone is consistent from the lowest chest notes to the very top of her range.”
–Barry Creasy, musicOMH

“Barton’s thrilling high notes – she took the optional top A in the climactic “Alleluia” – and superb chest voice combined with ideal commitment.”
–David Nice, The Arts Desk

“Barton’s Angel was an ideal partner to Clayton’s protagonist. The American mezzo-soprano is a favourite with the Proms audience and with good reason: not only is her timbre rich and gorgeous, she has the knack of cutting through the invisible curtain that can too easily veil solo voices on the Albert Hall platform…with reserves of warmth and talent.”
–Mark Valencia, Bachtrack

“The succouring Angel, resplendent in black and gold, was Jamie Barton. Serenely expansive in ‘My work is done’, she was exquisitely consoling and enfolding in ‘Softly and gently’.”
–Rupert Christiansen, The Telegraph

“Barton, a favourite with Proms’ audiences, was singing her first Angel, and it is fair to say her interpretation is already mightily impressive. Her gloriously-produced mezzo voice is more ‘operatic’ than we tend to hear in this role…an achingly-beautiful interpretation. Her parting ‘Softly and gently’ to Gerontius’ soul was cathartic in its simplicity. A treasurable artist…”
–Keith McDonnell, Seen and Heard International

“Barton was a warmly human Angel, singing with mellow radiance and a clear sense of joyful satisfaction.”
–Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill

“Barton was a radiant Angel, deeply communicative, her rich, creamy voice expressing real concern and love in her blessing… Her account of Christ’s crucifixion and agony rippled with feeling and fervour.”
–Claire Seymour, Opera Today

‘This superb performance combined theatricality, believability and sheer orchestral and choral beauty into one wonderfully complex tapestry. In large part that was due to the character and expressive range of the three soloists… Jamie Barton was as stirring in her stupendous alleluias — a top A to shake the rafters — as she was consoling in her exquisite final solo, ‘Softly and gently’.”
–Richard Morrison, The Times

“Jamie Barton made a generously warm-voiced and sensitive Angel, rising to the most glorious final “Alleluia” at the Proms in half a century.”
–Richard Fairman, Financial Times