Rafał Tomkiewicz
"...ORESTE - vocally and theatrically brilliantly embodied by countertenor RAFAŁ TOMKIEWICZ as a severely mentally disturbed, suicidal character tormented by guilt and nightmares.."
"...As ORESTE, the round, creamy legato of Polish countertenor RAFAŁ TOMKIEWICZ triumphs not through the speed of his vocalisations or the presence of exceptional notes, but through the sincerity of a song that goes straight to the heart, with the utmost smoothness and an impeccably sustained vocal line..."
"...With RAFAŁ TOMKIEWICZ, finalist of the 2018 Cesti Competition,
also a countertenor is on stage of the Landestheater innsbruck. As OREST, he has the most extensive part to sing, with four arias, all of which he interprets in different ways. Even his first aria, Qual destra omicida – the only minor-key aria in the entire opera – bursts forth from him without any orchestral prelude....
In contrast is the short largo aria Ah! Per pietà, placatevi: in gentle B flat major, Orest – accompanied by a solo cello (wonderfully played by Emmanuel Jacques) – begs the Furies who are pursuing him for mercy.
It is the introverted centrepiece of his great scene of torment in the second act, which TOMKIEWICZ renders with a dark, warm timbre..."
"...The countertenor Rafal Tomkiewicz put in a strong performance from the outset as the loyal but often frustrated Athamas. He possesses a fresh, homogeneous, pure-sounding voice with an impressive degree of agility, which he used to delight the audience with his well-presented arias. His first, “Hyman, haste, thy torch prepare,” allowed him to show off his pleasing ornamentations and versatile coloratura as he reflected on his forthcoming marriage to Semele, which almost immediately turns to despair, to which he gives voice in the aria “Your tuneful voice,” in what was another fine rendition, his gentle, mournful phrasing expertly capturing the depths of his feelings...."
"Rafał Tomkiewicz as a wonderfully frightening, brutal psychopath, waving a sword, plays out his fantasies about power and murder and sings with power, clearly and naturally, an authentically male-sounding countertenor"
"Rafał Tomkiewicz as Tamerlan attracts attention with the nobility of his voice, ease and lightness of the upper sounds, and his acting smoothly moves from the role of the recording director to the role of a cruel barbarian."
"countertenor Rafal Tomkiewicz, give this music all the sparkle and verve it requires"
"His mellow voice nicely dresses the disappointments of Act II, and does justice to the beautiful mad scenes of the last act."
"Rafal Tomkiewicz, playing the role of Anastasio with an electrifying gaze, impresses with a minty, fresh, effortless countertenor."