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II. French repertoire
Bizet: CARMEN - Loreley Festival - 7 July 2003
Die Glocke
The male roles were also superbly cast - most notably, Keith Ikaia-Purdy whose performance continually gained in intensity throughout the evening and who granted the role of Jose his dazzling tenor
Neue Westfälsische
Keith Ikaia-Purdy made a highly convincing Jose with the enormity of his vocal resources and the warmth of his tone.
Massenet: WERTHER - Baden State Opera, April 2007
Stuttgarter Zeitung:
"Tempestuous, Insistent: Stalker - WERTHER in Karlsuruhe" … The soloists left absolutely no wish unfulfilled - either vocally or dramatically
Mannheimer Morgenpost:
... The third act was the overwhelming highlight of the performance. … As Werther in his bitter-sweet aria "Pourquoi me reveiller?" dreams for the last time of good fortune in love, Charlotte's rejection sets into motion the final catastrophe. The scene evolves into Werther's death scene, again upon the snowy, open-grave landscape of the Prelude; the sorrowful confessions of love - deeply moving and beautifully sung by the pair (Ikaia-Purdy and Silvia Hablowetz) are too late. …The extremely warm premiere applause grew measurably, and quite appropriately, at the appearance of Hablowetz, Schlingensiepen (Sophie) and Ikaia-Purdy ….
Die Rheinpfalz:
... It was primarily from the musical perspective that the Karlsruhe State Theater's production of Massenet's WERTHER was convincing. … Keith Ikaia-Purdy sang the title role with a sonorous, effortlessly attractive, brightly ringing tenor voice.
Internet Theater Review (Eat Drink Michael Woman) Michael Baumgaertner:
"WERTHER. DESPAIRING"… Both Silvia Hablowetz as Charlotte and Keith Ikaia-Purdy as Werther gave marvelous performances, and complemented each other wonderfully.
Pforzheimer Zeitung:
Despite the uninviting vocal tessitura, Keith Ikaia-Purdy adroitly granted his well-managed tenor to Werther's high lying euphoric outbursts.
Massenet: WERTHER - Royal Opera Stockholm
L'Opera:
Keith Ikaia-Purdy was excellent ("bravissimo") and has a splendid voice.
Offenbach: LES CONTES d'HOFFMANN - Miskolc Festival, June 2007
As Star Guest of the Hungarian National Opera, Miskolc
Fidelio (Online edition)
The performer of HOFFMANN, Keith Ikaia-Purdy, is indeed an outstanding singer. Although his rather small stature is not what one might first imagine for a Hoffmann, all of the character's passionate love and madness were there, fully expressed in his voice and acting.
Offenbach: CONTES d'HOFFMANN - Metropolitan Opera - 19 February 2000
The New York Times:
"OPERA REVIEW; A New Hoffmann: Crazed Storyteller" - The title role in Offenbach's ''Contes d'Hoffmann'' is a formidable choice of repertory for a young tenor making his Metropolitan Opera debut. So it is to the credit of Keith Ikaia-Purdy, a tenor from Hawaii who has sung so far primarily in Europe and been a member of the Vienna State Opera since 1992, that his debut in the role on Tuesday night was so accomplished.
... lovers of this music should be grateful for the lyrical ardor, vocal agility and attractive sound of Mr. Ikaia-Purdy's Hoffmann. If one missed a touch of madness in his portrayal, there were compensations in his youthful energy, arching phrasing and intelligence.
Offenbach: CONTES d'HOFFMANN - Grand Theatre Geneva - 26 Dec. 2001
Le Monde
(On the second Christmas morning Michael Myers woke without voice. 45 minutes before the curtain Ikaia-Purdy arrived from the Geneva airport and immediately began the performance. Myers mimed and, as necessary, lightly sang the few portions of the Geneva edition unknown to Ikaia-Purdy. ...)
Standing aside the stage, Keith Ikaia-Purdy sang his role with ease and musicalité - without the slightest compromise to his vocalism, singing a part that - one must know - he had not performed for months. As was entirely appropriate, his achievement earned him the admiration of the public, who welcomed him with an ovation.
Offenbach: CONTES d'HOFFMANN - Pretoria Opera - October 1998
The Daily Mail:
Ikaia-Purdy shines in Contes d'Hoffmann: Keith Ikaia-Purdy is an astonishing Hoffmann, generous of voice without any hint of pressure. Even more pleasing were his considerable acting skills, including the rare ability to attend to what others do on stage. A finer reading of this demanding role is difficult to imagine. ... All in all a production worth seeing, especially for the outstanding Ikaia-Purdy
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