In November, Staffan is Polypheme in Händels Acis & Galatea first in Geneva, them in the cultural capital Timisoara. This after a busy spring and summer where he apart from his concert schedule sang Il Re in Aida at Wermland Opera, The Father in the newly written children’s opera Where is the sandwich? at The Royal Opera in Stockholm and Count Ceprano in Rigoletto at Opera på Skäret.
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.