First Floor Hall (Review Excerpts)

"Especially the (for Pears composed) "Male Chorus", which becomes the second leading role next to Lucretia, is lent a strong presence by the voluminous...tenor of the massive Philip van Lidth de Jeude."

"Philip van Lidth de Jeude used his sonorously resounding voice to characterize an Othello who triumphs in fortune and becomes an affectingly tragic figure in his raging jealousy brought on by delusion and slander."

"There was Philip van Lidth de Jeude's noticeably dark-timbered heldentenor in the role of Othello. This was an ideal choice for the portrayal of the title role in this Verdi opera. The singer skillfully characterized the jealous general."

"Philip van Lidth de Jeude is a story-book Otello. Enormous in stature and voice,... equipped with heavy heroic [vocal] material, he gives a brilliant musical portrayal of the title role."

"Samson's suffering here is impressively portrayed by Philip van Lidth de Jeude, an American tenor of Dutch birth."

"Philip van Lidth de Jeude's Samson is even a revelation. A royal voice, ...magnificent in power and flexibility and with a true pianissimo in the high register. All in all, an ideal casting."

"Philip van Lidth de Jeude as the Male Chorus was able to utilize these possibilities most impressively. After his splendid Britten d�but in the title role of PETER GRIMES, Mr. van Lidth has once more proved himself a Britten specialist. So endlessly tragic, so gentle in his individual art of singing and simultaneously so intense in expression as in the monologue at the end of the piece and also in the extremely densely-composed duets with the excellently disposed Andrea Hanson (soprano) -- no one else in the ensemble manages to sing this way."

As Peter Grimes: "This has been the high spot of the emotionally charged tenor's activity at Krefeld up to now."

"But as Grimes, Philip van Lidth de Jeude offered not only a vocal power play worthy of admiration, but his most impressive characterization to date. This Grimes was like the proverbial rock in the surf, a piece of bedrock that is hollowed out and eventually worn down by the persistent tides. His irate pride was already impressive in the opening courtroom scene. But the nearly-mad Grimes, wandering aimlessly about on the beach, will not soon be forgotten. This evening's success, for all the luster of the orchestra, for all the power of the chorus, for all the praiseworthy solo performances, was entirely his."

"...excellently cast: Philip van Lidth de Jeude as Grimes, whose powerful outbursts still allow the lyrical basis to be heard..."

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