The summer of 2024 brings three projects. First my first performance in the title role of Mendelssohn’s Elijah in July, whereafter i will perform Gremin in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin in August in Holland. And in September I am going to Hamburg to record newly written Lieder by Oliver Gruhn to texts by Hermann Hesse together with Symphoniker Hamburg.
Charles Sigel at Forum Opera writes:
It is the Swedish bass Staffan Liljas, impressive with virtuoso roughness, but also capable of touching sweetness on “and my Love” to depict a gloomy love that is cold and violent. We could wish for a deeper timbre but he compensates for this with a biting articulation and a precision rivaling those of violin and traverso solos.
Emmanuel Andrieu at ClassiqueNews writes:
The Polyphemus of the Swedish bass Staffan Liljas is not outdone with a sonorous voice and a strong dramatic presence. He presents himself with a lot of style and emotion, without ever yelling, in this role of “bad guy”.
Elodie Martinez at Opera Online writes:
The latter is played by the Swede Staffan Liljas, who interprets the anger and bitterness of Polyphemus, but without abandoning the rejected lover who remains. Thus he offers a beautiful air “O ruddier than the Cherry”, preceded by a touching “…and my Love”.
Alain Cochard at Concert Classic writes:
There is nothing overplayed in Polyphemus by the Swede Staffan Liljas, but a density of the vocal material and an accuracy of expression which, added to the effectiveness of the staging, give all its weight to the role.