Belcore: L’elisir d’amore / Scottish Opera
“Simon Thorpe is a delicious, pompous Belcore.”
The Stage
“Simon Thorpe made a vaingloriously macho Belcore...”
The Times
The Forester: The Cunning Little Vixen / Opera Australia
“The other rhapsodic lines go to the Forester, in which part Simon Thorpe is aptly solid, stolid and blunt until the closing scene.”
Sydney Morning Herald
Kuligin: Katya Kabanova / Opera North
“...Stephen Richardson and Simon Thorpe etching sharp cameos as Dikoy and Kuligin.”
The Daily Telegraph
Alfio: Cavalleria Rusticana / Dorset Opera
“Simon Thorpe was strong, too, as Alfio…”
Opera
Pasha Selim: Die Entführung aus dem Serail / Welsh National Opera
“Simon Thorpeas Pasha Selim was calm, dominating and oozed charisma.”
Opera Britannia
“…interpreted by Simon Thorpe with an air of natural authority, making some very telling uses of silence and hesitation and conveying a plausible sense of power restrained…”
Seen and Heard
“…Simon Thorpe’s suave Pasha…”
The Times
Lescaut: Manon Lescaut / Opera Holland Park
“...Simon Thorpe as a touchingly concerned Lescaut.”
The Observer
“Simon Thorpe is a sympathetic and smooth-toned Sharpless.”
The Guardian
Michele: il tabarro / English Touring Opera
“Simon Thorpe sang very well as the cuckolded barge owner, Michele – no caricature, this was a serious, musical performance by a baritone who is now a contender in the Verdi-Puccini repertoire.”
Opera Now
“Julie Unwin fleshes out Giorgetta’s unhappiness, with Charne Rochford perfectly presenting her doomed romantic partner and Simon Thorpe excellent as her unloved husband. All three sing with passionate engagement.”
The Stage
Scarpia: Tosca / Welsh National Opera
“His acting matched his vocal ability and when he tried to force his love on to Tosca, he really did represent a physical as well as mental threat to her.”
Crackerjack
John the Butcher: High the Drover / New Sussex Opera
“…Simon Thorpe was a suitably bluff John the Butcher.”
The Financial Times
“Led by Daniel Norman's adept Hugh, Celeste Lazarenko's winsome Mary and Simon Thorpe's forthright John the Butcher, the cast are solid…”
The Guardian
“Simon Thorpe made a confident and imposing John the Butcher, his deep baritone colouring his character’s aggressive nature.”
Music OMH
“Possessor of a weighty baritone, Simon Thorpe was equally well cast as the bullying butcher, exuding menace both in and out of the ring…”
Opera
Anckarström: Un ballo in maschera / Cork Opera 2005
“... Simon Thorpe and Cara O’Sullivan are both absolutely magnificent…totally convincing actors who sang with sensitivity, authority and great musicality throughout.“
Irish Examiner
“…the ardency of baritone Simon Thorpe as Amelia's husband, Anckarström, is altogether more persuasive, and he also stirs up an impressive storm with his co-conspirators…”
The Irish Times
“Simon Thorpe was a commanding Anckarström, moving from loyalist to assassin with complete conviction, and displaying true Verdian style throughout.”
Opera
Falstaff: Longborough Festival Opera
“…there are some tremendous performances, including Simon Thorpe as the proudly corpulent Falstaff…”
BirminghamPost
“…Simon Thorpe’s revoltingly corpulent (but very well-sung) Falstaff…”
Opera
Rigoletto / Clonter Opera
“His Rigoletto showed the full range of his voice, with expressive singing and a fine command of suppressed anger.”
Opera
“Simon Thorpe – the only member of the cast not making his first appearance at Clonter – was biting, flexible and eloquent as the jester, ambiguous in his relationship with Gilda’s chaperone (Emily Stevenson) and anguished in his fatherly concern.”
Opera Now
“Vocally and dramatically the cast were in fine form. Simon Thorpe as Rigoletto and Victoria Joyce as Gilda blended together in a manor that made you believe they really were father and daughter. Passion and deep seated love came from their every phrase and reaction.”
Crackerjack
Herald: Lohengrin / Opéra de Toulon
“Simon Thorpe’s Herald was characterised by full-bodied tone, strong high notes and incisive characteristion…”
Anaclase
“Simon Thorpe – a valiant, strong voiced Herald.”
Concerto Net
“Simon Thorpe – a clarion toned Herald.”
Forum Opera
“We must also praise King Henry (Bjarni Thor Kristinsson) and baritone Simon Thorpe who enjoyed a tremendous success.”
Var Matin
Kothner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg / Welsh National Opera
“There was splendid singing from baritone Simon Thorpe (Kothner, but perhaps also a future Sachs)…”
Musical Criticism
“Brindley Sherratt and Simon Thorpe were impressive as Pogner and Kothner.”
Opera