Todd Geer's Review Page

Tosca

 

‘Shabby little shocker’ delights opera-goers

 

“. . .  Todd Geer as her ill-fated lover, the painter Cavaradossi, was her equal both vocally and dramatically.  The young Carolina native has a big voice yet wielded it with a firm line and burnished tone.  His Recondita armonia was rich with romantic swagger, as impressive as the tenor’s clarion cries of Vittoria! in Act 2, and a pensive and beautifully sung E lucevan le stelle, full of regret and longing.  Dramatically Geer was terrific, natural and understated yet responsive to every turn of dialogue; his misgiving and conflicted emotions at being told of his ‘mock’ execution were emblematic of his subtle acting.”

Sun-Sentinel, South Florida 3/22/04

Opera, UK magazine excerpted 6/14/04

Sarasota’s 45th season

 

“I’ve heard bigger stars at Covent Garden or the Met or Vienna, but I’ve not seen such a carefully thought out, flawlessly executed version of Puccini’s shocker for at least a decade.  In the first place it helps to have a first rate director and designer and that is what we got in Stephanie Sundine and David P. Gorden. . .  Put this impeccable verismo together with a robust Cavaradossi in Todd Geer, a viciously sneering and sadistic Scarpia in Todd Thomas, who could emit a snarl of immense power which still sounded pleasing, and a luscious Tosca in Julie Makerov, whose Vissi d’arte floated through the theater and you got under DeRenzi’s baton a Tosca to remember rather than yet another routine performance to notch up.”

Opera Now, UK magazine 7/04

 

The best classical music performances of 2004 in South Florida

 

“#1 Puccini’s Tosca at Sarasota Opera:  The enterprising regional company is better known for its ongoing cycle of Verdi’s complete operas than Puccini.  With two young unknowns in the lead roles expectations weren’t high for Sarasota Opera’s first Tosca in 16 years.  Yet the whip crack conducting by Victor DeRenzi sparked electrifying performances from soprano Julie Makarov and tenor Todd Geer.  Combining fearless, old fashioned vocalism with remarkably natural acting, the combustible passions and complex human emotions of Puccini’s ‘shabby little shocker’ were put across with overwhelming impact.”

Sun-Sentinel, South Florida 12/27/04

 

‘Tosca’ a glorious beginning for Sarasota Opera’s 45 year

 

“Tenor Todd Geer plays Tosca‘s lover, Cavaradossi, and the two are wonderfully paired in personality and voice.  Geer’s gloriously romantic tenor blends with Makerov’s clear, strong soprano.

Pelican Press, Florida 2/19/04

‘Tosca’ opening spectacular

 

“Todd Geer as Mario Cavaradossi was no less thrilling with his clear ringing voice.”

Venice Gondolier Sun, Florida 2/18/04

 

‘Tosca’: a cauldron of power and passion

 

“Todd Geer sang a full bodied Cavaradossi and acted the part of the love-bitten, honorable artist with assurance.”

Longboat Observer, Florida

 

“Todd Geer is excellent as the ill-fated artist Mario Cavaradossi.  Not only was his singing top-notch for such beauties as Recondita armonia and E lucevan le stelle, but Geer had the acting ability to back it up and take it all over the top.

Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin,New York

 

Aida

 

“There was plenty of chemistry between this Aida and her Radames, Todd Geer.  The tenor impressed throughout with his assured bearing, articulate phrasing, lyricism and sweetness of tone.”

Contra-Costa Times, California 7/15/03

 

“Todd Geer, the Radames, is an excellent singer, with few of the usual tenor weaknesses and strong musicality.  Anyone who can get throughCeleste Aida with such grace deserves a medal.  He was a generous lover in his scenes with Aida, and was no more wooden in the epic scenes than any tenor I’ve seen in the role.”

San Francisco Classical Voice 7/15/03

 

Two leads bring ‘Aida’ to life in Asbury Park

 

“. . . Some of his singers didn’t have a big enough voice.  That was certainly not a problem for the two leads, happily. Soprano April Evans in the title role and Todd Geer as her lover, Radames, both were able to fill the acoustically dead hall, even over the loud orchestra.”

Asbury Park Press, New Jersey 8/17/04

 

Metro ‘Aida’ Triumphs

 

“Finishing out the leading trio, young tenor Todd Geer as Radames vocally lead the cast just as his character led the army to victory”

Star-Ledger, Newark New Jersey 8/16/04

 

 

 

 

Stiffelio

 

Sarasota Opera soars with Verdi’s fascinating Stiffelio

 

“Heard as Cavaradossi in last season’s combustible Tosca, Todd Geer proved equally sympathetic as the conflicted title minister.  The tenor possesses a vibrant voice with a natural ease of production, able to sail up to high notes without strain and float some lovely mezza voce singing.  Geer is also a subtle and expressive artist, and he conveyed Stiffelio’s dignity as well as emotional anguish with understated dramatic point”

Sun-Sentinel,South Florida 3/16/05

 

“Stiffelio is a superb part and Todd Geer gave an uncanny performance, at once impassioned and full throated in the big ensembles, but also capable of conversational expressiveness in the ministers tortured introspection.  The Stiffelio-Lina duet was profoundly touching as she appealed to him to hear her not as her husband, but as her minister dropping to her knee her vocal line echoed by English horn.  Geer was alternately stern and vulnerable in the finale as Stiffelio took to the pulpit to read the parable of forgiving the woman taken in adultery and then publicly forgiving his wife”

St. Petersburg Times, Florida 2/23/05

Opera News, Online Edition 6/05

 

“Todd Geer presented another outstanding interpretation for the Sarasota audience.  He was Cavaradossi in last year’s ‘Tosca’ and was no less exciting in his role of Stiffelio.  Whether singing at half-voice to create an aura of uncertainty, or at full voice as in the final scene at the church, Geer offered thrilling moments of great singing. . .Together, McArthur and Geer were palpably dynamic in their confrontations.  Their voices blended beautifully and their attacks were precise and exhilarating.”

Venice Gondolier Sun, Florida 3/2/05

 

“As the cuckolded minister Stiffelio, Todd Geer brought his rich tenor and musical intelligence to a complex role, matching McArthur ringing note for ringing note in their duets and responding to her lustrous, dramatic intensity in their emotional confrontations.”

Herald-Tribune, Sarasota, Florida 2/23/05

 

“And, oh, the singers! Todd Geer, as Stiffelio, has risen high in the ranks since last season’s Cavaradossi in ‘Tosca.’ His big, round, ringing tenor should make him a major player in the world’s opera houses.”

Longboat Observer, Florida

Rigoletto

 

“But dramatic honors belong to Todd Geer, who brought a clarion tenor to the Duke: Appropriately jaunty in his arias, he was ardent enough to make credible Gilda’s passionate response-and to make almost credible the out of character empathy expressed in Parmi veder.”

Opera News

 

“Tenor Todd Geer’s Duke of Mantua was sung and acted beautifully.  He had the cocky and devilish smirk that befits a man of the Duke’s arrogance, and he sang with a wonderful tenor voice that had nice depth, modulation and expressiveness.”

OperaOnline.us 11/20/04

 

“Best among the principle trio was tenor Todd Geer who sang generously and attractively as the libertine Duke.  Beginning with an expansiveQuesta o quella in Act I, Geer’s warmth, Italianate phrasing and ringing top notes were assets throughout.”

Contra-Costa Times, California 7/12/04

 

“As the cause of Gilda’s ruin, the Duke of Mantua, Todd Geer performs a stunning balancing act.  Sure the Duke is a sleaze, but he also has to be likable for the audience to believe that Gilda loves him in spite of it all.  Vocally, Geer is on top of his game, and he made easy work of his money notes, in particular the supremely high note in La donna e mobile”

Press and Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton,New York

 

“The libertine Duke of Mantua was sung by tenor Todd Geer.  He got off to a rousing start with his spirited Questa o quella.  He possesses a large, energetically delivered tenor with an all-out projection of the top notes.  He charmed with the lyric interpretation of the second act, E il sol dell’anima and a dashing version of the show stopping favorite, La donna e mobile.”

Port St. Lucie News, Florida

 

“Geer’s rendition of the famous arias went well.  La donna e mobile was presented with the easy going aplomb of a seasoned professional.”

Winston-Salem Journal, North Carolina

 

La Traviata

 

“As Alfredo, Todd Geer was the evening’s vocal stand out in a role that can sometimes be overshadowed by the soprano’s fireworks.  He also acted the part skillfully, especially his awkwardness in the first act meeting with Violetta, moving uneasily the glittering salon. It was refreshing to see Alfredo played less as an impetuous romantic than as a shy boy awakened to life through the good offices of his slightly older lady-love.”

Star-Ledger, Newark, New Jersey

 

“Geer Sings with the passion, finesse and sensitivity of one who thoroughly knows how the love-struck Alfredo feels.  He has a dramatic tenor sound, one that wears and warms well as the opera unfolds, and also sails through the ornamentation and pitfalls of Verdi’s writing without a hitch.  Among his many sublime moments is a particularly gripping O mio rimorso in the second act.”

Nevada Events, Reno

 

“Charlotte native Todd Geer brought a boyish charm and innocence to the part of Alfredo, along with a clear easy going tenor.  He could produce big sounds for the climactic moments but was also effective in the quieter moments, such as the introspective remorse after insulting Violetta in Act III and the pitiable sorrow of Alfredo’s despair at Violetta’s dying in the last act.”

The News and Observer, North Carolina

 

“Tenor Todd Geer, who plays her lover Alfredo Germont, declared his passion in a voice like melted chocolate!”

Sacramento Bee, California