Brangäne in TRISTAN UND ISOLDE

Santa Fe Opera

“Jamie Barton’s magnificent Brangäne was as authoritatively acted as it was movingly sung, an embodiment of the role in a production that fixed relentless attention on its principals.”
–David Allen, The New York Times

“The Tristan cast boasted…the always magnificent mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton. Barton’s Brangäne was a marvel of richly polished legato and incisive inflection, an ideal companion to Wilson’s clarion soprano that made each of her spotlight scenes memorable.”
–Harvey Steiman, Seen and Heard International

“Barton’s animated readings were consistently alert to the dramatic potential in the text; in the first act her hints of irony provided a welcome counterpoint to Isolde’s despair, her intermittent spectral appearances in the second act were magnificent, and in her final lines of the third act she offered an unusually convincing admission of her role in the tragedy.”
–Jesse Simon, Mundo Clásico

“The singing cast delivers a masterful performance. Jamie Barton is a warm and loving Brangäne, and her warning solo is irreproachable.”
–Christian Dalzon, ConcertoNet 

“Jamie Barton was sympathetic as Brangäne, Isolde’s maid, and made effective use of her strong lower and middle vocal registers.”
–Mark Tiarks, The New Mexican

“Jamie Barton interacted superbly with both O’Neill and Wilson, scoring interesting textual points, and certainly showed the rich vocal resources for Brangäne. Her offstage Watch sounded lovely.”
–David Shengold, Opera Magazine

“A showcase for some impressive young Wagnerians – Jamie Barton, a playful Brangäne…”
–Heidi Waleson, Wall Street Journal

“Jamie Barton is a formidable singing actress, her voice rich, burnished, and flexible. As Brangäne, she meshed perfectly with Wilson.”
–James L. Paulk, Musical America

“As Isolde’s maid, Brangäne, Barton scolded and worried with impressive strength, projecting easily from the wings as she kept watch over the lovers’ tryst in Act II.“
–Charles T. Downey, The Classical Review

“Wilson is the Isolde of dreams. She supplies a powerful, well-integrated soprano, from blazing top notes to warm chest voice, and does so with the greatest expression. She has her match in Jamie Barton’s Brangäne, their voices sometimes almost indistinguishable, but Barton digging more deeply in her mezzo riches.”
–Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News