Reviews


La Traviata, Opera Queensland 2009

"Dwyer pushed the frame of Alfredo, portraying an intense, wilful hot-head whose extreme feelings eclipse his judgment"
The Australian (G. Wills)

"One thing Opera Queensland does very well is the casting of its leads...Alfredo was expertly performed by Adrian Dwyer, his profound voice a perfect match to Elvira's spectacular vocals"
Sunshine Coast Daily (N. Cooper)

"This production is also lucky to have accomplished Victorian tenor Adrian Dwyer, who makes his debut as Alfredo but is a charismatic match for the gorgeous soprano"
Australian Stage Online (J. Whitaker)

"Adrian Dwyer's Alfredo is a gauche outsider, dressed down, ill at ease and uncomfortable with champagne, while his worldly-wide older rivals ill-conceal their jealousy and malice, to the amusement of the gossipy and stunningly-attired womenfolk... Unlike many productions, this one emphasises Alfredo's youth and naivety in trying to break into the corrupt and exploitative Parisian social scene with an offer of genuine love. Verdi has provided many challenges for the tenor, and Dwyer rises to the occasion"
StageDiary.com

"The cast was absolutely amazing... Adrian Dwyer was a perfect foil as Alfredo Germont, and the chemistry between the two of them was unmistakable."
Scene Magazine (J. Shriver)

Classical Spectacular, Liverpool Arena 2009

"Tenor Adrian Dwyer deserved the rousing cheer for his Nessun dorma"
Liverpool Echo (C. Jones)

Skin Deep, Opera North 2009

"...in a performance packed with principals, Janis Kelly as Lania, Heather Shipp as Donna, Amy Freston as Elsa, Adrian Dwyer as Robert, Mark Stone as Pollock and Gwendoline Christie as Susannah Dangerfield are all superb."
Lancashire Evening Post (M. Morris)

Street Scene, The Opera Group 2008

"Sam Kaplan was sung by Adrian Dwyer, who already has a considerable repertoire – this was an outstanding performance in a difficult role, his duet with Ruby “Remember that I care” managing to be moving yet avoid cloying sentimentality, a big challenge in my view with anything involving Walt Whitman."
Musicweb-international, 07/08 (M. Eskenazi)

" Adrian Dwyer as Sam hit exactly the right note of thwarted longing."
The Guardian, 07/08 (Michael Billington)

"Ruby Hughes sings prettily and Adrian Dwyer lustily as the soppy young couple and there's some sporadic fine belting, that finds the right balance between the operatic and the freer style of musical theatre."
MusicOMH.com 07/08 (Simon Thomas)

" There were some potentially excellent performances in the show with... Adrian Dwyer giving a powerful turn as Sam Kaplan."
MusicalCriticism.com, 07/08 (Dominic McHugh)

Der Fliegende Hollander, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra 2008

"Adrian Dwyer’s earnest interpretation of the Steersman suits his clean, penetrating tone and lyrical phrasing."
The Australian 08/08

Barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Queensland 2008

"This latest production of the Barber is a gloriously fun-filled and richly musical entertainment - probably the best Barber Brisbane has seen... Adrian Dwyer as the love-sick Count Almaviva has a light and pleasing tenor voice and a fine comedic sense - his characterisation of Count, disguised lover, drunken soldier and parson are diverse and effective."
Stagediary.com

"For my last review with Scene Magazine, I was gifted with a feast of stars in Opera Queensland's Barber of Seville... Our young leads are the dashing Count Almaviva, played handsomely by Adrian Dwyer, and Elvira Fatykhova taking the role of Rosina."
Scene Magazine, 05/08 (Phoebe Jamieson)

"Opera Queensland's latest offering, the Barber of Seville, boasts a talented line-up of both Australian and international performers... In his company debut, Melbourne-born tenor Adrian Dwyer also turns in a solid performance as the lovestruck Count Almaviva."
Time Off 05/08 (Adam Brunes)

"What a glorious night of froth and bubble this turned out to be, with laughs galore, beautiful characterisations and some wonderful singing from outstanding artists... Tenor Adrian Dwyer, making his debut with Opera Queensland. played the Count in all of his disguises and went with the fun of the piece as a love-lorn royal. He bought the house down with the constant 'blessing' of Doctor Bartoli"
absolutetheatre.com.au (Eric Scott)

Barbiere di Siviglia, Scottish Opera 2007

"As Count Almaviva, Adrian Dwyer has by turns to be a nobleman, a man in love, a drunken soldier and a pious music maestro. He somehow found the resources for all of these, including the funny voices, while remaining enough of the romantic tenor to win his beloved."
The Scotsman, 10/07 (Stuart Campbell)

"To achieve this, Sir Thomas Allen, opera star turned director, had chosen his singers well; not only were their voices terrific, but they could all act individually and, crucially, in ensemble; without this opera can, and too often does, turn into a succession of cardboard cutouts with audio effects. Karen Cargill is gifted with one of the loveliest voices you could ever hope to hear, warm and true, with a clear coloratura which paired well with the equally clear, unstrained tenor of Australian Adrian Dwyer, playing her suitor Count Almaviva."
www.hi-arts.co.uk

Don Giovanni, Belle Ile Festival 2006

"Adrian Dwyer’s is the winning performance, with a very accomplished technique and a perfect control of the Mozartian style which enables him to create a Don Ottavio of a rare elegance and completely deprived of insipidness"
La Scene, 08/06 (Vincent Deloge)

La Boheme, Cape Town Opera 2006

"She is much helped by having a Rodolfo (Dwyer) who is really a very fine actor. In the end, their interchanges are credible and his fickleness more understandable than merely irritating. His voice is of pleasing timbre and neatly focussed. This was a lovely evening at the opera"
Cape Times, 05/06 (Deon Irish)

La Boheme, Royal Albert Hall 2006

"The cast assembled both looked and sounded incredibly youthful. As Rodolfo, Adrian Dwyer had the physique du role and an ardent Italianate timbre to match."
www.uk.gay.com

Macbeth, Scottish Opera 2005

"Macduff's last act aria was poignant, dramatic, and superbly sung"
Dundee Courier, 09/05

Barbiere di Siviglia (Paisiello), Buxton Opera Festival 2005

"Adrian Dwyer (as the disguised Almaviva) is a charming and appealing lyric tenor with a good upper range who - not least in the Count's early serenade - prised the maximum fun from the furtive wooing scenes"
Opera News, 08/05 (R. Dunnett)

"Adrian Dwyer's lightish but characterful tenor and perky personality made a charming job of Almaviva, from the early serenade to the lovely Cara sei which sets in train the bustling extended finale"
Opera Magazine, 10/05

Maria Stuarda, Grange Park Opera 2005

"There was marked warmth from Adrian Dwyer's hapless, mellifluous Leicester, hot-headedly eager to surge into aria, but crushed between two equally intransigent lovers"
The Independent, 06/05

Cherevichki, Garsington Opera 2004

"Simple good-hearted Vakula was sung, most likeably, by a young Australian tenor, Adrian Dwyer; quite a find"
The Sunday Telegraph, 06/04 (M. Kennedy)

"Adrian Dwyer sang sweetly and stylishly as the frustrated suitor Vakula"
Country Life, 07/04 (A. Payne)

"The young tenor Adrian Dwyer impressed in the demanding role of Vakula, at once pathetic and sympathetic"
Evening Standard, 06/04 (F. Maddocks)

Postcard from Morocco, GSMD 2002

"The main role is written as if for a young Lohengrin - a tenor Flying Dutchman. Adrian Dwyer tackled it clearly, ardently, with fine response to such instructions as 'rapido ed agitato…fila di voce'. He knows how with brains, voice and natural instinct to bring a number, and a character, to life."
Opera, 08/02 (Andrew Porter)

Iolanta, GSMD 2001

"Adrian Dwyer showed boundless promise as Vaudemont… his top is beautifully liquid and free: a remarkable talent"
Opera, 02/02 (Rodney Milnes)

"He combined plenty of passionate phrasing with a stunning top"
The Times, 11/01 (R. Thicknesse)

"Adrian Dwyer was even more impressive as her 'rescuer' Vaudemont. His easy, ardent vocal manner will surely take him far."
www.operajaponica.org