Reviews

 Nabucco, Nabucco, Taconic Opera

In the title role, Dan Klein was initially tentative, but his attractive baritone quickly warmed up and he was soon comfortably inhabiting the role of the megalomaniacal king. I was especially taken by his portrayal of Nabucco’s episodes of madness; his instantaneous descent from power-hungry tyrant into defeated old man was a real theatrical triumph. In his duet with Abigaille, he pulled out all the stops, finishing the final measure with a thrilling, sustained high A-flat. And in the prison scene, the whole audience was in the palm of his hand.

October 2011, Daniel Foley, musicalcriticism.com

Scarpia, Tosca, North Shore Music Festival

The charismatic Scarpia of Daniel Klein was the vocal standout of the evening. This Scarpia was indeed dangerous, but played more to the complex character’s suavity and sensualism than the brutality beneath the hypocritical surface. The sadistic pleasure Scarpia derives from his machinations was disturbingly clear. Klein sang with fine legato phrasing; Scarpia threatened with a purr rather than a snarl of menace. I felt that the corrupt baron’s erotic attraction to Tosca was more visible than her Voltairean lover’s.

8/14/11, Lucy Barnhouse, operaobsession.com

Pirate King, Pirates of Penzance, Fresno Grand Opera

When the Pirate King, played with appealing swagger and a rousing voice by an impressive Daniel Klein, ends his big number, he fends off all his fellow pirates with a clever blade placed behind his back.

1/30/11, Donald Munro, The Fresno Bee

Gifts from Grand Opera, Annapolis Opera

Klein not only gave a robust account of the Toreador song – otherwise known as the ‘I have too much testosterone song’ – but a refined and sensitive one of a heart-tugger from Verdi’s ‘Don Carlo’ “Per me giunto e il di supremo”…

12/7/10, Gerald Fishman, Hometown Annapolis

Don Basilio, Barber of Seville, Skylight Opera

Daniel Klein’s Basilio was the most original performance. Usually played as a prissy busybody, Klein gave the role some wacky masculine menace, costumed with dark Spanish garb and carrying mysterious baggage.

Sheperd Express, Rick Walters, September 23, 2009

Their antagonists, Jason Budd’s fussy, effeminate Bartolo and Daniel Klein’s oily, serpentine Basilio, are over-the-top affected in comic ways.  The clear contrast in personalities drives the conflict and helps a crazy story make a little sense. Crucially, they all deliver the words, which in this canny translation sound a great deal like Neil Simon dialogue and are funny in a Neil Simon way.

Daniel Klein (Basilio), Kathy Pyeatt (Berta), Bryce Lord (Ambrogio) and Doug Clemens (Fiorello) give thoroughly enjoyable, polished performances.

Marcello, La Boheme, Opera Company of Middlebury

“The third wonderful gift was the Marcello of Daniel Klein, who mastered sitting on stage with his back to the conductor and keeping exact time with him. He had perhaps the richest voice of the evening, and he certainly has all the earmarks of a major career, God and the theater impresarios willing. His was one of the more thoughtful Marcello’s that I’ve ever had the good fortune to see and hear.”

The Tenth Muse, Dan Wolfe, Denton Publications, Aug 25, 2008

“Portrayed by the equally and incredibly talented Daniel Klein, Marcello is a powerhouse of a character: fun loving, passionate and loyal.”

Addison Independent, Nancy Maxwell, Aug 28, 2008

“Baritone Daniel Klein’s Marcello was rich-sounding and convincing as the painter.”

The Times Argus, Jim Lowe, Aug 22 2008

Dick Deadeye, H.M.S. Pinafore, Lyric Opera of San Diego

“Most of the sailors are dead-on too, especially Dick Deadeye (played to the hilt by Daniel Klein).”

The Califonian, Eileen Sondak, Feb 21, 2008

“Lanky bass-baritone Daniel Klein is aptly sinister (and often comical) as the dastardly Dick Deadeye, who foils the young couple’s elopement plot.”

Curtain Calls, Pat Launer, Feb 14, 2008

“Then there is handsome Daniel Klein (though forfeiting his good looks in the eye-patch role of DICK DEADEYE) [who] scores effectively in the pivotal protagonist role.…”

sdtheatrescene.com, Dale Morris, Feb 12, 2008

John Proctor, The Crucible, International Vocal Arts Institute, Tel Aviv, Israel

“The leading role was sung and acted wonderfully by Daniel Klein.”

Noam Ben Zeev, Haaretz, Tel Aviv, August 2, 2006

This post is also available in: German