Press
OPERA NEWS| New York, NY
“As Victor Frankenstein, tenor Brian Cheney was the ideal counterpart. He very ably expressed Victor’s horror, panic and regret over the evil his work has wrought.”
BROADWAY WORLD| New York, NY
“Cheney’s Frankenstein was an excellent foil in his scenes with the monster.”
OPERAWIRE| New York, NY
“Cheney’s ringing tenor voice carried well in the stone catacombs, conveying the fear that the deep bass sound of the monster summoned. And as the section of the sketches went on, Cheney’s voice bloomed to match the action and threats of the creature.”
NEW YORK CLASSICAL REVIEW| New York, NY
“Cheney was in full, rich, attractive voice.”
PARTERRE| New York, NY
”Cheney turned in a well-acted performance. His pleading scenes with Jeremiah certainly sparked…(the performers) offered a chance to fill a dark cave with bright, lustrous sound.”
LIMELIGHT| New York, NY
“The haunted Victor was a bright-toned, intense Brian Cheney”
NEW YORK MUSIC DAILY| New York, NY
”Cheney, as Dr. Frankenstein, channeled intransigent denial, but his angst grew more harrowing as the dialogue with his creation grew more emotionally charged.”
SUPERCONDUCTOR| New York, NY
“Cheney as Frankenstein sang in a fine resonant tenor”
CARMEN
ARTS KNOXVILLE| Knoxville, TN
“Tenor Brian Cheney sang the role of Don José, the subject of Carmen’s seductive power, with such attractive and supple clarity, expressive detail, and eye-opening power that one hungered to hear more.”
CLASSICAL VOICE NORTH CAROLINA| Asheville, NC
“Tenor Brian Cheney’s portrayal of Don José was the most effective dramatic and vocal realization of character in the production…this excellent singer revealed a voice of amazing power and great beauty. Cheney’s booming tenor voice and effective dramatic realization of the passionate Don José soon made him the audience’s favorite character.”
RHODY CIGAR| Westerly, RI
“Cheney’s titanic tenor voice is balanced by the sensitivity of his acting, making him perfect for a role that is as horrific as it is heartbreaking.”
TOSCA
STAGE and CINEMA | Los Angeles, CA
“It is tenor Brian Cheney as the brave painter Cavaradossi who really blew me away. Cheney has that terrific tenor sound: the power, richness, and vocal color of a high baritone combined with ringing, awe-inspiring high notes.”
LA EXAMINER | Los Angeles, CA
“Cheney’s potent tones found their clarion marks like fated arrows ––(and) his acting was as fine as his voice. Cheney’s rooftop rendition of the romanza E lucevan le stelle (“And the stars were shining”) brimmed with felt pathos. Voiced in the cool night air, the romanza revealed a breathtaking immediacy that palatial opera houses cannot touch.”
LA WEEKLY| Los Angeles, CA
“There are two major stars-to-be here: Patrick Blackwell,…as Scarpia, and Brian Cheney, whose bright, focused tones ring out heroically as Mario Cavaradossi. Seeing them in (such) an intimate venue…should give you unimpeachable bragging rights ten years from now.”
CULTURE SPOT LA| Los Angeles, CA
“…the standout is Brian Cheney as Cavaradossi. Amplified by the resonant hall acoustic, his pure, bold tenor fills the space with humanity and pathos. ”
KUSC| Los Angeles, CA
“Listen to Brian Cheney, in song and interview, and see if you agree: the next great tenor on the near horizon is a singer who has paid his dues and is due for a great unveiling.”
CANDIDE
The Sondheim Review | Chicago, IL
“The title role was beautifully sung and winningly played by Brian Cheney, a protege of the the late tenor Jerry Hadley, Bernstein’s own choice for the title role in the 1989 recording.”
Urban Tulsa Weekly | Tulsa, OK
“Cheney rises to the difficult role of Candide, and masters the challenging music. To hear someone sing like this, with such an appearance of effortlessness, inspires an almost painful relief, like the massage of a knotted muscle.”
Tulsa World | Tulsa, OK
“The role of Candide has been one of Brian Cheney’s ambitions for years and he is superb. He sings in an unadorned tone that emphasizes the character’s naivete and vulnerability, especially in the songs like It Must Be So and Candide’s Lament, where Candide opens his heart and questions the ideas he’s long held dear. Make Our Garden Grow was performed with breathtaking power and beauty.”
LA BOHEME
The Providence Journal | Providence, RI
“Charismatic tenor Brian Cheney’s Rodolfo was simply phenomenal. His glorious first-act solo aria was the high point of the entire production. Cheney’s commanding stage presence, thrilling vocal beauty, and passionate projection called to mind Franco Corelli. Send Cheney up to the big leagues. ”
The Day | New London, CT
“Brian Cheney in the lead role as Rodolfo the poet sang exquisitely, his supple tenor caressing every note, earning Cheney his first extended ovation in the opening scene. His acting was terrific, too, right down to his breaking voice during the heart-rending climax.”
Nuevo Miami Herald | Miami, FL
“Cheney fulfilled every aspect of the very demanding role of Rodolfo with outstanding moments.”
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
Ashville Citizen-Times | Ashville NC
“Tenor Brian Cheney’s powerful tenor voice appeared to be even stronger and clearer (than his performance here two years ago) with precise phrasing, effortlessly delivered. ”
“(Soprano Jennifer) Davison and Cheney displayed real chemistry with their vocal interplay. The crescendos soared, but perhaps more impressive were the tender moments the two shared between the peaks of more palpable passion. The seamlessness of the acting and singing pointed to great talent and attention to detail on the part of both the singers and the director, Jon Truitt.”
River Reporter | Narrowsburg, NY
“Brian Cheney, the tenor who sings the role of Pinkerton, reminds me of Metropolitan Opera tenor Jerry Hadley. He has his look and his voice. He surprised me when he took the high-C with Cio-Cio San (most tenors don’t) in the incredible duet in the end of Act 1, and he stayed right up there with her. That’s the sign of a brave tenor. He sang his role brilliantly in a production full of talented colleagues.”
The Times Herald | New York, NY
“In the lovers’ duets, his robust and cheerful tenor voice also rang with joy. But in the closing episode of tragedy, his character turned remorseful and his voice turned ominous with emotion.”
RIGOLETTO
The Day | New London, CT
“And how welcome is tenor Brian Cheney to this stage? We hear few tenors in these parts so confident and powerfully at ease in a high Verdian tessitura such as the Duke’s.
“…it was the vocal power and characterizations by Loyd, in the title role, and Cheney, as the Duke, coupled with the emotional turbulence and dramatic hammer blows of Verdi’s great score, that carried the night.”
“… Cheney seemed immune to challenges of technique to sing key arias with full interpretation and artistry, especially his soaring love vow to Gilda “E il sol dell’anima” and his heartfelt and nuanced “Parmi veder le lagrime.” His ardent farewell scene with Gilda, “Addio, addio,” the lovers clinging tight, was hot in every sense.”
“[Cheney’s] vivid stage presences and vocal aplomb …conveyed the full weight of this most dramatic of operas…”
“.. a searing evening of opera theater. ”
The Providence Journal | Providence, RI
“..the whole cast is top notch…[putting] on a terrific Rigoletto…{with] tenor Brian Cheney giving a commanding showing as the lecherous Duke of Mantua.”
The Shoreline Times | Madison, CT
“Wow…two and a half brilliant hours in the Salt Marsh Opera’s riveting production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto.”
“The Duke – often referred to as the co-lead in what many regard as Verdi’s masterpiece – was sung by tenor Brian Cheney – with artistry and power. [Cheney’s] deceitful pledge of love to Gilda and passionate farewell scene with her – a love scene that gave off sparks – were all conveyed in a series of famous arias that had the audience cheering.”
THE STUDENT PRINCE
The Advocate | Albany, NY
“But the heart of The Student Prince is the Prince himself, and imagine my delight when I discovered in Brian Cheney a wonderful tenor AND a fine actor! He is handsome in a very Mario Lanza/Tyrone Power/matinee-idol-of-the-1940’s kind of way, which is perfect for this role. He sings magnificently, but knows how and when to use a stage voice as opposed to an operatic sound.”
The Times Union | Albany, NY
“Brian Cheney is strong as Prince Karl Franz. He acts as well as he sings, which is important in a play about duty, where the boy doesn’t get the girl. His wincing goodbye is true. He sings Serenade lustily, Beloved tenderly and he makes I’ll Walk With God into a transformational moment worthy of a man who would be king.”
VERDI REQUIEM
CLASSICAL VOICE NORTH CAROLINA | Charlotte, NC
“I was most impressed overall by Cheney, who excelled in the “Ingemisco” tenor aria. Cheney’s “Requiem aeterna dona eis” was nothing less than sublime, floating ethereally over the hushed chorus, a timeless little capsule that reminded me how live performance can triumphantly transcend any recording.”
THE DAILY GAZETTE | Schenectady, NY
“Cheney’s ringing and edged tenor soared like a clarion.”
THE MESSIAH
The Daily Gazette | Schenectady, NY
“Tenor Brian Cheney was a revelation. A protégé of the late Jerry Hadley, Cheney’s voice was like spun gold. He seemed to dwell on his notes, basking in their loveliness. Each phrase was sculpted, each word was cleanly enunciated. Not just a gorgeous voice, Cheney showed imagination as he altered his colors or use of vibrato.”
The Advocate | Albany, NY
“(The performance) gave newcomer Cheney more time to thrill the crowd with his darkly hued voice, wonderfully sustained tones and exquisitely finished phrases. His entire range was mellifluous, and his passion was palpable.”