John Horton Murray

"John Horton Murray brought ample power and stamina to Walther's music, along with a suitably bright, lyrical sound....he met the considerable challenges of the role with grace and ardor."

“John Horton Murray was the self-possessed knight Walther, who swaggered with self-confidence and wielded a heroic tenor ... in the treacherous 'Prize Song,' he triumphed in his final rendition, tackling its high tessitura fearlessly."

"John Horton Murray's youthful looking and sounding Stolzing resoundingly carried all before him, ending with a Prize Song that was indeed a first-prize performance."

"Leoncavallo's meaty score demands big voices, and Lyall had big guns blazing with dramatic tenor John Horton Murray erupting in anguish upon discovering his wife's infidelity. Murray's Canio was as bewildered as he was ballistic, illuminating the years between older husband and younger wife...the show stopping aria, 'Vesti la giubba,' packed an emotional punch."

"John Horton Murray was much more than just replacement for Johan Botha...and mastered the difficult part in awe inspiring fashion despite the consistently high tessitura."

"As replacement in the role of Albrecht von Branderburg...John Horton Murray accomplished an admirable feat. In only eight days, he learned the devilishly difficult 'helden'-part and sang with bravery all the way to the crowning hallelujah."

"Her Emperor, tenor John Horton Murray ... blended dramatic steel into a flow of ardent lyricism."

"John Horton Murray's ringing tenor, sustained breath and steady tone never seemed to falter as Menelas"

"John Horton Murray managed Apollo's murderous outbursts impressively"

"On the other hand, I adore the voice of the other tenor, John Horton Murray, who, as Apollo, performs admirably with a pure timbre, and a beautifully diverse tenor range"

"...a voice of liquid metal that shines like gold among the entire company."

"John Horton Murray brought to the brief but grueling role of Bacchus a tenor that matched Eaglen's voice in warmth and carrying power."

"In the title role, American John Horton Murray offered clear, bold tone, and his dramatic assumption was invariably apt for a character that develops constantly throughout the action."

"Murray sang well and acted with understated dignity.... Though clearly husbanding his resources for that final solo, the tenor ardently registered the heartache of Paul's farewell."

"As Bacchus, John Horton Murray maintained impressive stamina and an even, muscular tone in a credible interpretation of this notoriously demanding helden tenor role."

"John Horton Murray, who made a stunning entrance as Bacchus in the last scene, dressed as a classical, seaborne warrior in Francis O'Connor's designs, lifted the roof with his bold, brazen singing in the climactic duet."