Tosca - Northern Ireland Opera 2023
"Brendan Collins making a visceral and vehement impression in his role debut as Scarpia..." Michael Quinn; Opera Magazine
"Brendan Collins delivers a truly menacing Scarpia who inspires convincing displays of fear from the other characters, most notably from Kasyan and from Niall Anderson’s otherwise brisk but prim Sacristan. Scarpia also commands ready obedience from his deputy Spoletta, played with sustained hardness by Aaron O’Hare. Collins’s ‘Va, Tosca’ offers a deeply ominous anticipation of how the diva’s capacity for jealousy can be manipulated to cause the downfall of many" - Sarah McCleave; Opera Now Magazine
"The Irish baritone Brendan Collins, as the despicable Scarpia, is the most consistent, with fine vocal production, and a convincingly strong dramatic sense." David Byers; The Irish Times
"Brendan Collins made his role debut as Scarpia with style. Strongly projecting his sonorous baritone, he gave an emotionally intense, compelling performance." Leighton Jones; Bachtrack
"And this immediacy also applies to the brilliant Scarpia of Brendan Collins, his relatability making him all the more chilling.Collins delivers a disciplined performance of this role, vocally immaculate, and believable as a character. For his debut in this role, it is an impressive achievement. The teamwork and ensemble singing between these three – especially Kasyan’s contrasting scenes with Auty and Collins – is equally telling." Michael Lee; GoldenPlec
"Interestingly, one felt there were sparks when Tosca met the villainous Baron Scarpia, head of the secret police, sung and acted with brio by Brendan Collins. He was nasty, charismatic and got the import of his arias very well." Jane Hardy - The Irish News
"Collins’ villainous Scarpia is a menacing yet stylish cross between El Duce and Mad Max. He delivers a potent “Va, Tosca, ” his booming baritone framed by chiming bells, somber organ, and the combined might of the NI Opera Chorus and the Belfast Philharmonic Choir, who incarnate the faithful in a moving “Te Deum.” This is opera at its most seductive." Ian Patterson - Theatre-News
Carmen - Irish National Opera 2022
“Brendan Collins as the smuggler Le Dancaïre was commendable both in his singing and acting.” Andrew Larkin; bachtrack.com
“and a commanding Brendan Collins as the smuggler Dancaire.” Michael Dungan; The Irish Times
“the smugglers Dancaire and Remendado were deftly played by Brendan Collins and Eamonn Mulhall who also brought moments of humour to the action.” Gearóid O’Byrne; nomoreworkhorse.com
"Brendan Collins making a visceral and vehement impression in his role debut as Scarpia..." Michael Quinn; Opera Magazine
"Brendan Collins delivers a truly menacing Scarpia who inspires convincing displays of fear from the other characters, most notably from Kasyan and from Niall Anderson’s otherwise brisk but prim Sacristan. Scarpia also commands ready obedience from his deputy Spoletta, played with sustained hardness by Aaron O’Hare. Collins’s ‘Va, Tosca’ offers a deeply ominous anticipation of how the diva’s capacity for jealousy can be manipulated to cause the downfall of many" - Sarah McCleave; Opera Now Magazine
"The Irish baritone Brendan Collins, as the despicable Scarpia, is the most consistent, with fine vocal production, and a convincingly strong dramatic sense." David Byers; The Irish Times
"Brendan Collins made his role debut as Scarpia with style. Strongly projecting his sonorous baritone, he gave an emotionally intense, compelling performance." Leighton Jones; Bachtrack
"And this immediacy also applies to the brilliant Scarpia of Brendan Collins, his relatability making him all the more chilling.Collins delivers a disciplined performance of this role, vocally immaculate, and believable as a character. For his debut in this role, it is an impressive achievement. The teamwork and ensemble singing between these three – especially Kasyan’s contrasting scenes with Auty and Collins – is equally telling." Michael Lee; GoldenPlec
"Interestingly, one felt there were sparks when Tosca met the villainous Baron Scarpia, head of the secret police, sung and acted with brio by Brendan Collins. He was nasty, charismatic and got the import of his arias very well." Jane Hardy - The Irish News
"Collins’ villainous Scarpia is a menacing yet stylish cross between El Duce and Mad Max. He delivers a potent “Va, Tosca, ” his booming baritone framed by chiming bells, somber organ, and the combined might of the NI Opera Chorus and the Belfast Philharmonic Choir, who incarnate the faithful in a moving “Te Deum.” This is opera at its most seductive." Ian Patterson - Theatre-News
Carmen - Irish National Opera 2022
“Brendan Collins as the smuggler Le Dancaïre was commendable both in his singing and acting.” Andrew Larkin; bachtrack.com
“and a commanding Brendan Collins as the smuggler Dancaire.” Michael Dungan; The Irish Times
“the smugglers Dancaire and Remendado were deftly played by Brendan Collins and Eamonn Mulhall who also brought moments of humour to the action.” Gearóid O’Byrne; nomoreworkhorse.com
Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Irish National Opera 2018
“the impressive baritone Brendan Collins generating some genuine empathy amid all the hilarity as Antonia’s father.” Michael Dungan - The Irish Times
“John Molloy played the various evil roles (Lindorf, Coppélius, Miracle, Dappertutto) and – not uncommonly – stole the show in each and every one of the scenes where he was present, except one: the duet with Brendan Collins as Crespel, Antonia’s father, in the third act. Here we had the unusual pleasure of listening to the two great Irish basses singing together, each with their own distinctive timbre; it was quite a show, easily the highlight of the evening.”
Pia Maltri - Bachtrack
"Other cameos come and go all too quickly, notably Brendan Collins’ tragic Crespel" Michael Lee
https://www.goldenplec.com/
RETURN OF ULYSSES - Opera Collective Ireland 2018
“The three suitors, countertenor Eoin Conway, tenor Andrew Boushell and baritone Brendan Collins demonstrated great vocal agility and comedy in their slimily insidious roles.”
Andrew Larkin - Bachtrack
“...with Brendan Collins adding a winning dash of Bela Lugosi-esque pantomime to the role of Antinous”
Max McGuinness - Financial Times
PARTENOPE- Iford Opera 2018
“Brendan Collins’ poised major-domo Ormonte is an accomplished piece of acting and singing, not beyond a little ad-libbing during a protracted mid-act retuning session from Contraband, our mellifluous orchestra conducted with skill and verve by Christopher Bucknall.”
Charlotte Valori - Bachtrack
“Baritone Brendan Collins as Partenope’s aide-de-camp Ormonte is brilliantly witty, not least when addressing the crowd directly.”
https://www.arbuturian.com/culture/music/partenope-at-iford-too-hot-to-handel REBECCA LIPKIN
EITHNE - WIDE OPEN OPERA 2018
“The brothers of Ceart were Art and Neart and were sung by Brendan Collins and Eamonn Mulhall, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern-like characters whose parts were sung with gusto.”
Andrew Larkin - Bachtrack
The Last Hotel - Theatre de Luxembourg 2018
“At this performance Robin Adams’ voice was replaced half way through by that of Brendan Collins, but he continued with perfect sync on stage, while Collins voiced expertly the aggressive, brutish and ambitious voice of the husband.”
Sarita Rao - Lux Times
DON GIOVANNI - Opera Theatre Company 2016
“Cork man Brendan Collins was a plucky Masetto” Cathy Desmond - Irish Examiner
“Daire Halpin and Brendan Collins make for a believable Zerlina and Masetto” Michael Lee - Golden Plec
"Vocally there were some very fine performances, from Tara Erraught as Elvira, Maire Flavin as Anna, and from Daire Halpin and Brendan Collins as a well-matched Zerlina and Masetto. "
Opera magazine
“...there’s Mozart’s exquisite music, played beautifully by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra under conductor Fergus Sheil, and sung to near perfection by an extraordinary cast. Jonathan May’s Commendatore, Alexander Sprague’s Don Ottavio, Daire Halpin’s Zerlina and Tara Erraught’s Donna Elvira are all wonderfully realised vocally. As is Brendan Collins’ Masetto and Máire Flavin’s Donna Anna”
Chris O'Rourke - theartsreview.com
YEOMAN OF THE GUARD - National Gilbert and Sullivan Company 2016
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/music/14685271.review-national-gilbert-sullivan-opera-company-in-the-sorcerer-and-the-yeomen-of-the-guard-royal-hall-harrogate-august-12-and-13/
Brendan Collins's fine baritone Sir Richard was a stand-out Martin Dreyer
https://bachtrack.com/review-yeomen-of-the-guard-national-gilber-and-sullivan-july-2016
In the small role of Sir Richard, the Lieutenant of the Tower, Brendan Collins had an imposing bass voice that I hope to hear more of in future.
Peter Connors
Brendan Collins's fine baritone Sir Richard was a standout
Opera Magazine Martin Dreyer
Pirates of Penzance
Vocals by the Pirate King (Brendan Collins), Mabel (Leigh Rhianon Coggins) and Frederic (Adrian Dwyer) were lush people, lush! Brendan Collins wooed the audience with his mastery of his deep voice to much delight
http://www.ladiestakeon.co.uk/gilbert-sullivan-festival-pirates-of-penzance/
The Barber of Seville - Wide Open Opera 2016
"as ever it is a pleasure to see Brendan Collins producing yet two more of his priceless cameos (as Almaviva’s side-kick Fiorello, and the nameless ‘Officer’)"
https://www.goldenplec.com/live-reviews/the-barber-of-seville-at-the-bord-gais-energy-theatre-review/?fbclid=IwAR0E4_KjNw-xWcSScLEo7irfuzXS2ymCPpqv53JOs-1oRHMnFDydkxia4E0 Michael Lee
2015:
https://thesidebalcony.com/2016/04/22/review-of-the-barber-of-seville-at-the-bget-dublin-2042016/ Pia Maltri
baritone Brendan Collins stood out in the secondary role of Fiorello.
AGRIPPINA - Opera Collective Ireland 2015
The IYO cast – Máire Flavin, Anna Devin, Rachel Kelly, Dawn Burns, Padraic Rowan, Sharon Carty, Brendan Collins and Alan Ewing – performs with an unrestrained energy that is more than matched by the Irish Chamber Orchestra, directed with fire from the harpsichord by Jonathan Cohen.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/agrippina-scheming-betrayal-and-cleavage-make-for-a-great-evening-opera-review-1.2347052 MICHAEL DERVAN
RIGOLETTO - Opera Theatre Company 2015
Brendan Collins, covering for an indisposed singer, doubles the roles of Monterone and Marullo, and delivers Monterone’s curse with excellent clarity, bringing necessary depth to this brief role.
https://www.goldenplec.com/live-reviews/opera-theatre-company-presents-verdis-rigoletto-review/ MICHAEL LEE
Rigoletto
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/opera-review-opera-rigoletto--oreilly-theatre-dublin-332384.html
Cathy Desmond
L'assedio di Calais - English Touring Opera 2013
The six nobles who volunteer for execution to save the city - Wade, Sherman, Stuart Haycock (Giovanni D'Aire), Brendan Collins (Pietro De Wisants), Niel Joubert (Giacomo De Wisants) and Matthew Sprange (Armando) - sing the close harmony of "O sacra polvere" with heart-rending intensity.
https://theoperacritic.com/tocreviews2.php?review=cg/2013/etocalais0513.htm Catriona Graham
PAGLIACCI - Cork Operatic Society 2012
from Brendan Collins’ (Tonio) splendid singing of the Prologue right through to Ronald Samm’s (Canio) broken-hearted Ridi Pagliaccio, which brings down the curtain, the excitement/tension never lets up.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/artsvibe/pagliacci-everyman-palace-cork-198542.html Declan Townsend
Poor ‘ol lustful Tonio, the fool of the troupe of players whose vengeful actions have drastic consequences was powerfully portrayed by baritone Brendan Collins who opens the show appearing from behind a curtain in a side stage box before delivering the opening prologue..
https://cathydesmond.blogspot.com/2012/06/pagliacci-for-everyman-cork-midsummer.html Cathy Desmond
Orpheus in the Underworld - Scottish Opera 2011
https://intermezzo.typepad.com/intermezzo/2011/12/orpheus-in-the-underworld-scottish-opera-rory-bremner.html
the singing is uniformly fine, with Brendan Collins, Jane Harrington (Eurydice) and Daire Halpin (Diana) standouts.
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/reviews/orpheus-in-the-underworld-young-vic-25-6270380.html
Brendan Collins’s roly-poly Jupiter is a nifty creation.
Michael Church
