Dead Man Walking (complete opera)

"If the opera seemed good before, it's rather better now...DiDonato [comes to the vocal lines almost as heightened speech...[and] leaves no question that she'll get a confession out of the killer. DiDonato also makes the nun and murderer soul mates...As the killer, Philip Cutler is prickly and vocally imposing in his early scenes. But later on he becomes rhetorically understated in ways that make his ultimate confession even more devastating." Gramophone Magazine, May 2012

"The work is an immense affirmation of opera's potential to deal with the most pressing contemporary issues...The recording...is sensational...In one of her most subtly characterised performances to date, Joyce DiDonato plays Prejean...Frederica von Stade is devastating as De Rocher's desperate mother, while Patrick Summers' conducting is exceptional in its passion and commitment." The Guardian, 10th May 2012 ****

"Less of an opera than a piece of post-Sondheim musical theatre, the piece nevertheless receives a committed performance here, with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato oozing sincerity in the role of Sister Helen, and baritone Philip Cutlip's rugged Joe ranging from nonchalance to desperation. Mezzo Frederica von Stade is movingly sympathetic as Joe's mother" BBC Music Magazine, June 2012 ***

"Heggie made a few minor changes to the score after the premiere and these can be heard only on this new release. In many ways, then, this is an excellent and desirable second recording...it captures all of this opera's emotions, and then some." International Record Review, September 2012

"The cast fielded in Houston is quite simply superb, certainly matching that given to Heggie by San Francisco at the world première. Joyce DiDonato is magnificent in the leading role, quite a match for Susan Graham in the earlier recording." MusicWeb International, June 2012