Reviews

His engaging combination of avuncular congeniality and dictatorial sternness marked Canadian baritone Alexander Hajek, in his Seattle Opera debut, as a singer to watch.

Also first-rate was baritone Alexander Hajek, from Toronto, Canada. He impressed in his Seattle debut with both his singing and comedic acting. His voice is ample and attractive; it seems to do whatever he wants it to. The role of Sulpice is actually fairly large, and Hajek delivered it with ease and delight.

Baritone Alexander Hajek as Guglielmo is one to watch with his creamy, romantic, Italianate sound.

Baritone Alexander Hajek, in his second season (COC), was the best of the men with a ringingly sung Champagne Aria. He was also most at ease in front of an audience...his is the voice suited for princely roles.

Alexander Hajek, playing the jester, is also vocally powerful, and encapsulates the dual nature of this wise comedian perfectly.

Baritone Alexander Hajek had an excellent opening scene, vocally assured and convincing.

It was no small feat for this Don to hold his own against the hilarious, inventive Leporello portrayed by Alexander Hajek (a cool devil of a Gianni Schicchi on this same stage last season). Hajek can bring down the house with a monosyllable (an eloquent ``Sì`` in response to his master) and can hold it entranced through the extended catalogue aria, in which he deployed a modest-sized baritone with impressive dexterity.

The star of any Gianni Schicchi is Schicchi himself, sung Friday night by baritone Alexander Hajek. Delightfully smarmy as one of Concepción’s lovers in L’Heure Espangnole, he was all gritty charm and authority, like a Brooklyn cab driver, in Gianni Schicchi. Although his bio and his singing bring to mind more lyric baritone qualities, Mr. Hajek seemed very comfortable – gleeful, in fact – acting a basso buffo role. I expect to hear more of him in the future.

Baritone Alexander Hajek’s Marcello was engaging and stylishly sung...

...the only one with clear, steady and unstressed control...he has a solid spinning, velvety sound, which he used with unaffected humour and pathos...

...the freshness and intimacy of the space makes it easy to appreciate all the gamin charm Hajek brings to his performance...