Peter Auty's performances of Des Grieux in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut at Opera Holland Park, which opened the festival’s 2019 season, have been praised for their ardency and fiery upper register. Peter made his debut as Des Grieux earlier this season in concert with the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo. Well known to Holland Park audiences, he has previously sung principal roles in Iolanta, La Forza del Destino, Aida, Cavalleria rusticana and I Pagliacci, Adriana Lecouvreur and Eugene Onegin.
“Elizabeth Llewellyn (Manon) has a gloriously rich and full tone, and Peter Auty (Des Grieux) matches her with a fiery upper register.” Warwick Thompson, Metro
“Peter Auty’s plangent tenor is the nearest an English singer will get to Des Grieux’s impassioned effusions.” Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times
“[Auty’s] Italianate tonal quality” George Hall, Financial Times
"Peter Auty’s Des Grieux was solidly sung.” Erica Jeal, The Guardian
“[Auty] does well in a taxing tenor role” Daniel J. Lewis, Daily Mail
“Peter Auty’s tenorial tumescence makes Des Grieux suitably ardent.’’ Nick Kimberley, Evening Standard
“Tenor Peter Auty was consistent and strong as Des Grieux.” Claire Seymour, Opera Today
"Auty has the right Italianate sound …. His desperation in the later stages is vocally convincing.” David Nice, The Arts Desk
"As the tenor ‘hero’, Peter Auty gives a creditable performance.” David Gutman, Classical Source
“Peter Auty works up a fine head of steam as a full-throated Des Grieux.” Yehuda Shapiro, The Stage
“Auty is good throughout in his vocal work, nicely balanced with the orchestra.” Gary Naylor, Broadway World****
“Peter Auty as her lover sang a strong Italianate tenor.” Mark Ronan, The Article
“As des Grieux, Peter Auty asserts a brilliantly powerful and expansive tenor.” Sam Smith, Music OMH
“Auty was able to bring plenty of robustly phrased, Italianate tone, making Des Grieux a real pleasure to listen to.” Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill
Performances run until 26 June. For more information please click here.
Photo credit: Ali Wright
