Press
“ Thank goodness for tenor Stuart Howe - whose beautiful voice displayed romantic delivery. He was a real matinee idol with beautiful phrasing, and at least, he sang from the heart. When he was on the stage, the production came alive. ”
- Opera Canada
“ Thank goodness for tenor Stuart Howe - whose beautiful voice displayed romantic delivery. He was a real matinee idol with beautiful phrasing, and at least, he sang from the heart. When he was on the stage, the production came alive. ”
- Opera Canada
Percy (Anna Bolena):
“Even under the weather, Stuart Howe is a compelling performer. He throws himself into his roles with tremendous passion and his Percy, Anna's former lover was a boiling cauldron of emotions. He brings excitement with him whenever he is on stage.”
Paula Citron, Opera Canada
Wilhelm Meister (Mignon):
“ The four male principals were also impressive, particularly Stuart Howe as Wilhelm Meister, the romantic lead.”
Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen
Nemorino (L'elisir d'amore):
“The stellar cast featured Stuart Howe, whose performance culminated in a spellbinding rendition of Una Furtiva Lagrima, earning him a lengthy and well deserved ovation.”
Walter Thiessen, Opera Canada
“ The opera was extremely fortunate in finding Toronto tenor Stuart Howe almost at the last minute. Howe stepped in with a whole week to learn the blocking. He's clearly a quick study; the casual observer would never know he wasn't part of the cast from the beginning. Knowing the role was not an issue. Howe's debut 10 years ago was as Nemorino, the lead male role, which he has sung 80-some times since, and it shows. He completely understands the character, and expresses him with great physical demonstrations of misery (spurned in love), elation (when he drinks the elixir) and feigned indifference (he plays hard to get.)... No review of Elixir can be complete without mention of the beautiful aria Una Furtiva Lagrima, which establishes Nemorino as a more mature lover. Haunting in its intensity, it is one of the most beautiful arias ever written for a tenor, and Howe brought it off magnificently, to a huge ovation ... ”
Joanne Paulson, The Star-Phoenix
“...tenor Stuart Howe portrayed Nemorino to the hilt, rolling his eyes while singing how he was incapable of inspiring love. Despite suffering from a cold, Howe sang sweetly. His Una furtive lagrima, was sung with great sensitivity.”
Gwenda Nemerofsky, Opera Canada
" Stuart Howe, peut-etre le plus touchant des interprètes masculins, a montré beaucoup d'empathie pour le pauvre Nemorino de L'Elisir d'amore."
English: " Stuart Howe, perhaps most touching of the male interpreters, showed much empathy for poor Nemorino of L'Elisir of d'amore
Richard Boisvert, Le Soleil
“...the quintessential Nemorino. In his European debut, Canadian tenor Stuart Howe's acting and beautiful tenor combined, are no doubt what Donizetti envisioned in the role.”
Publico, Lisbon
Ernesto:
" Ernesto lamented the loss of his love, Norina, in a deliciously rendered "Sogno soave e casto. [His] brightly focused young voice can keep an exquisite Donizetti musical line endlessly suspended in air like a soft summer breeze. "
Hugh Fraser, Opera Canada
" ...Stuart Howe had [Ernesto] in the bag. Howe is one tenor who is developing in the right direction. Witness his ringing tones in Act 2's [Povero Ernesto!]... Worth the admission price was the [Act 3 duet - Nocturne], sung immaculately by Whalen and Howe..."
Leonard Turnevicius, The Hamilton Spectator
"Stuart Howe as Ernesto continues to display excellent acting skills and a beautiful lyric tenor "
Paula Citron, Classical 96FM
" ... entertainment doesn't get any better than this. This production opened Thursday at Hamilton Place, and the experience, both musically and visually, was exceptional - featuring four excellent soloists. The duet, which Whalen and Howe sing in Act III ... must be one of the most beautiful moments in opera, with these two perfectly matched, bel canto infused instruments glorious to behold.
Harry Currie, Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Gérald (Lakmé):
“Howe was ardent and passionate. His take on the role as the fool who unwisely becomes smitten with Lakmé was marvelous. As a young man making choices, Howe transmitted his torn anxiety into musical delight. Who can remember hearing a tenor linger on text and have the feeling that what he sang would remain in memory? Howe's interpretation of Gérald's regrets at having to leave Lakmé for duty -- and all that that means, knowing that she would commit suicide -- emerged from his voice as a highly written dirge.”" "
Colleen Johnston, The Record
“Opera Ontario’s production features excellent singing from soprano Jane Archibald as Lakmé, tenor Stuart Howe as Gérald and bass-baritone Alfred Walker as Nilakantha...Howe has an appealing voice, light, clear and focused. His tonal colour and articulation was precisely what this role demands, with his "Fantasie aux divins mensonges" a real treat.”
Geoff Chapman, The Toronto Star
“ ...this Hamilton Opera Lakmé is a fine success. Every one of the principal singers performs solidly and well in this production... As her foil, Stuart Howe made full use of his engaging and lovely tenor voice, with some of the best music in the opera reserved for him.” Robert Harris, The Globe and Mail
“Stuart Howe’s lyric voice was flawless and beautiful.”
Susan Sabo, The Hamilton Spectator
Fenton:
“ Opera Lyra Ottawa's production, was an overall success and a major feather in the company's cap. It is easily the most ambitious production the company has undertaken to date. The good news began with a cast in which there were no weak members. ” “ Stuart Howe [as] Fenton used his voice well [and] his acting was good...”
Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen
“ ...the singing was excellent and the cast as a whole worked beautifully as a vocal ensemble. ” “ The tenor (Stuart Howe) was a fine young man... ” “ Falstaff succeeds at all levels and should not be missed. ”
Alvina Ruprecht, CBC Radio
“ ...with acclaimed tenor Stuart Howe...it is without doubt the best production the company has staged since its breathtaking Madama Butterfly in 2004. ”
Denis Armstrong, Ottawa Sun
Arturo (La Straniera), OIC:
“Tenor Stuart Howe as Arturo is a shining talent with marvellous phrasing, a gorgeous legato line, and a real sense of style, Italianate sob and all.”
Paula Citron, Classical 96 FM
“The casts of principals included, as Arturo, Stuart Howe, whose clear and forthright tenor seemed just right for the romantic lead Bellini described as “un disperato.”
Wayne Gooding, Opera Canada
Alfred (Fledermaus):
"How can you lose with a cast of characters like this? A sweet-voiced lover, his objet d'amour -- a married woman who can't resist his high Cs... The cast is marvelous, Canadian tenor Stuart Howe was a hilarious Alfred, the lover who wouldn't quit. His lilting voice and sparkling eyes had Rosalinde swooning - and it had a similar effect on many female audience members. Expressive and accurate, he manoeuvred through the most demanding arias with ease and style."
Gwenda Nemerofsky, Winnipeg Free Press
Camille, (Merry Widow):
“ Thank goodness for tenor Stuart Howe as Camille whose beautiful voice displayed romantic delivery. He was a real matinee idol with beautiful phrasing, and at least, he sang from the heart. When he was on the stage, the production came alive. ”
Paula Citron, Opera Canada
"Stuart Howe (as de Rosillon) has a lovely smile and an even lovelier tenor voice, both of which he uses to advantage...”
Richard Ouzounian, The Toronto Star
Karl Franz (The Student Prince), TOT:
Toronto Operetta Theater’s The Student Prince is one of the best productions this company has ever presented. At the centre of the success are the wonderful voices and stage presence of the leads, tenor Stuart Howe and soprano Elizabeth DeGrazia...Howe is going to have a huge career. His interpretation of Prince Karl Franz displayed a crystalline voice that he can colour as the mood dictates, a commitment to character that rivets the eye, and a naturalness on stage, all coupled with a manly demeanor. The guy is sexy and he sings like an angel.”
- Paula Citron, Opera Canada
“Tenor Howe is a Prince Charming, in very good voice with controlled calm, polished delivery and a vocal buoyancy that charged every situation...[Baritone Bruce Kelly’s” “Golden Days duet with Howe [was] sheer delight.”" " "
Geoff Chapman, The Toronto Star
James Nichol (Iron Road), Toronto:
“Stuart Howe’s assured tenor made Nichol more of a personality than the role actually had in it...as an overall achievement, it [the opera], and its young singers, impressed; we can easily do with more works of this quality.”" " " "
Peter Dyson, Opera (London)
“As the only non-Chinese principal singer, the fast-rising Canadian tenor Stuart Howe sang with a firm sense of line and considerable ardour as James Nichol.”
William Littler, The Toronto Star
“Stuart Howe's lyric tenor was perfect for the romantic hero.”
Tamara Bernstein, National Post
“As the leads, soprano Zhu Ge Zeng and tenor Stuart Howe showed they were able to act as well as sing. Howe, in particular, is a talent to watch.”
Paula Citron, Classical 96 FM
“...James Nichol...tenor Stuart Howe in an impressive performance...”
John Coulbourn, The Toronto Sun
Higgs (Erewhon), Pacific Opera Victoria:
”Stuart Howe, acting with aplomb and meeting the demands of the high-lying tenor role with security and grace.”
Opera News
“Particular mention should be made of tenor Stuart Howe, who coped with the high tessitura and considerable dramatic demands of the role of Higgs with considerable aplomb.”
Opera (London)
“The singing in this production is excellent. Howe, a tenor, can make his voice very soft and hit tremendously high notes with a sweet caress.”
Victoria News
“The assembled cast is young and highly talented...the singing was superb and clear enough to make the surtitles unnecessary. Stuart Howe as John Higgs stands out in a stand out cast!”
CBC Radio
In Concerts:
" Tenor Stuart Howe is a mighty talent ... simply brilliant in [everything] he did. He is one of the best singing-actors in Canada. "
Paula Citron, Classical 96FM
“His flexibility and well-focused creamy tone was especially welcome in Donizetti’s Una Furtiva Lagrima... Earlier his rendition of Gerald’s aria from Lakmé brought the house down; and deservedly so. Howe’s compelling presence, immaculate diction and ability to soar above the fray were the highlights of the night.”" " " " " "
James Wegg, jamesweggreview.org
“... more romantic was the aria from a lesser-known, less frequently performed opera “Lakmé” by Delibes. Tenor Stuart Howe sang Fantasie aux divins mensongs with a fresh open voice and the appropriate passion of the discovery of love...Stuart Howe revealed his considerable acting skills and expressive facial expressions as the love-torn young hero of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore. Singing Una Furtiva Lagrima his lyric tenor flowed along the bel canto phrases with ease...The two soloists joined for the beautiful O Soave Fanciulla, the love duet from Puccini’s “La Bohème”. A fresh coiling of limpid voices that almost made it possible to believe in love at first sight.”" "
Joanna Manning, The Tribune
"The soloists were all up to the mark: ...Stuart Howe rhetorical and suave in the tenor part..."
Kenneth DeLong, Calgary Herald