Vitalij Kowaljow
                              Bass
 
Photography by Luis Condro
"The cast heralds a new, international-level Wotan in the Ukrainian bass Vitalij Kowaljow, who lent the assignment an impressive sonorousness." Allan Ulrich, Financial Times „Kowaljow, a basso cantante, leaves little doubt that he is the first great Wotan of the post-Hotter Wagnerian world. His magnificently resonant voice, which he employs with total ease, is rich in colors and shadings and capable of every nuance." Wes Blomster, Opera Today „The bass Vitalij Kowaljow was a vocally formidable Wotan.“ Anthony Tomassini, New York Times „Kowaljow is one of the rising basso cantante stars of this decade, with a beautiful bass voice, sonorous throughout the bass range, and particularly suited to Verdi’s music.“ Opera Warhorse „Kowaljow’s voice is a rich, expressive basso cantante, a powerhouse, with seemingly endless reserves of focused sound throughout the range, whether at full fortissimo or sustained piano. In Forza, I didn’t just hear his voice, I felt it — a rare experience in an opera world increasingly populated with smaller and mid-weight voices. And Kowaljow brought much more. His superb musicianship and impeccable legato enabled him to spin out the Verdi line effortlessly, while his unaffected delivery of the text underscored the character’s humanity and humility.“ Dan Rosenbaum, Opera News