SEPTEMBER 2024
INTERVIEW — THEATER BREMEN
“I think you are a Heldentenor” — New York State native Christopher Sokolowski makes his debut in the title role of Lohengrin. Dramaturg Frederike Krüger meets with him.
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JANUARY 2024
PORTRAIT — ST. GALLER TAGBLATT
“Suddenly a Hero: The American tenor Christopher Sokolowski storms into the dramatic repertoire at Theater St. Gallen.”
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OCTOBER 2023
PORTRAIT — IOWA PUBLIC RADIO
“Meet rising opera star Christopher Sokolowski.”
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OCTOBER 2022
PORTRAIT — ST. GALLER TAGBLATT
“Family ties on stage: In the operetta ‘Die Fledermaus,’ two pairs of siblings will sing and dance at the St. Gallen theater.”
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SEPTEMBER 2024
LOHENGRIN — THEATER BREMEN
“Christopher Sokolowski delivers a sensational role debut as Lohengrin this evening. His performance is authentic and effortless, and vocally, Sokolowski is a true discovery. His clear, well-placed, and dynamically balanced voice masterfully handles both pianissimi and legato passages as well as messa di voce. His perfect diction crowns his extraordinary performance and raises hopes for a great and, above all, long and successful career.”
Klassik Begeistert
“Christopher Sokolowski delivers an impressive Lohengrin debut. In this context, Lohengrin's Montsalvat narrative becomes a highlight. Here, 33-year-old American Christopher Sokolowski crowns his impressive Lohengrin debut with vocal and dramatic presence. He is not only approachable as a nuanced hero but also connects emotionally and directly with Wagner's unique character. Sokolowski’s Lohengrin captivates with its baritonal color, skillfully manages the lyrical passages, and impresses when he lets his voice shine with metallic clarity.”
Concerti.de
“The miracle of the evening, however, was Christopher Sokolowski as Lohengrin. His voice is indescribably interesting and, above all, suited to the production: warm and baritonal, with glowing high notes, he seduced not only Elsa but also the audience. Additionally, his portrayal of Lohengrin as an outsider, with plenty of wit, was mesmerizing. Standing ovations for an opera evening lasting over four hours without any loss of tension.”
Neue Musikzeitung
“Christopher Sokolowski embodies this unusually cheerful Lohengrin very convincingly. His later despair, when he and Elsa can no longer find each other, is believable in every moment. Vocally, Sokolowski masters this role without any audible strain; his voice has brilliance and radiance and shows no signs of fatigue even towards the end. He begins the Grail narration so tenderly, as if he had not already sung with full power for three hours.”
IOCO KULTUR IM NETZ
“It was visiting artist Christopher Sokolowski’s role debut as Lohengrin. He proved to be a good actor, doing full justice to the central idea of the flippant would-be adventurer. His voice is very suitable for the role of Lohengrin: he is able to mold it flexibly to express both gently flowing lines, as in the duet with Elsa in Act III, and the heroic exchanges with the King during his first appearance and again in Act III. His voice was still fresh for the Grail Narration, and he made it the genuine climax of his evening. He delivered the acknowledgement of the swan at the beginning and the end of the opera in an exquisite piano.”
SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL
“The young tenor Christopher Sokolowski made his debut in the title role that evening, giving everything both dramatically and vocally. Despite his profound tenor voice sounding quite dark in the middle range, his high A in the Gralserzählung, along with his entire upper register, shines brilliantly. His text delivery was detailed, with numerous tonal modifications and accents. His Lohengrin is not a superhuman mythical hero, but rather a remarkably insecure character.”
OPERAPOINT
“Christopher
Sokolowski doesn't physically resemble the typical Lohengrin; with his boyish,
slender physique, he could just as well be a ballet dancer. But with his
masculine-toned tenor, he fulfills all the requirements for the role, which he
carries through to the end with brilliance and without any signs of fatigue.”
DER OPERNFREUND
“He possesses a very resonant voice with a 'sparkling' timbre and a
special shimmer, along with a radiant upper register that will undoubtedly take
him far, not only in the Wagner repertoire. A very interesting new tenor with a
highly successful debut, and we will surely be hearing more from him in the
future!”
IHR OPERNRATGEBER
“American
tenor Christopher Sokolowski, with his blond curls and slim, athletic figure,
makes both his Bremen and Lohengrin debuts. His youthful appearance is only
half the appeal, as vocally he lacked neither radiance nor substance. His
baritone-tinged voice was confidently controlled, even in the softest dynamics.”
WESER KURIER
“Christopher
Sokolowski in the title role perfectly fits this directorial concept in both
voice (a metallic, commanding tenor) and appearance (an attractive young man).
He has a great deal of power and knows how to guide his rather strong,
text-focused tenor with nuanced soft tones.”
KREISZEITUNG
JANUARY 2024
ERNANI — THEATER ST. GALLEN
“Christopher Sokolowski is an extremely convincing, intense interpreter of Ernani. He portrays this totally disturbed young man, tormented by inner demons, with a forceful, present physicality (he is on stage practically non-stop). His engagingly timbred tenor sounds increasingly liberated as the evening progresses. It is extremely pleasing that he does not force his voice at any point, but is able to fill the role with natural, perfect vocal support and a dynamic, precisely nuanced tone.”
Oper Aktuell
“Ernani is sung by tenor Christopher Sokolowski, who with an almost youthful vigor seizes the opportunity to show off his dramatic skills. He is truly impetuous at the start of the evening, giving the role a vibrant power and a compelling, sometimes almost wild presence. He never loses credibility in his passion, his loyalty, or his suffering.”
Ostschweizer Kultur
“Everything revolves around the title character Ernani, superbly cast with the young American tenor Christopher Sokolowski, absolutely moving in his deep inner turmoil, with his dark side, his sadness, his musically security and precision, with magnificent, melodious high notes and a beautifully controlled, rich timbre - what a joy to listen to him, powerful and clear to the end, his almost exuberant energy superb.”
Arcimboldis World
SEPTEMBER 2023
PARIS OPERA COMPETITION — THÉÂTRE DES CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
“Christopher Sokolowski, American tenor, shows a technical maturity well beyond his years, enabling him to master the multiple facets of his shimmering velvet voice. He also displays Wagnerian power and a stage savvy that denotes a certain experience.”
Ôlyrix
JULY 2023
LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES — DES MOINES METRO OPERA
“Sokolowski navigated the ever changing and equally absurd moods of the Prince with finesse… Sokolowski’s heroic tenor voice turned the hapless Prince into a compelling hero, his clear tone and skillful technique making the most of Prokofiev’s score.”
Schmopera
“Mr. Sokolowski is all goofy puppy dog, with unerring comic instincts, unleashing torrents of gleaming sound, each phrase more impressive than the last.”
Opera Today
MAY 2023
VERDI REQUIEM — THEATER ST. GALLEN
“Christopher Sokolowski has the talent, personality, and makings of a great spinto tenor.”
Ruch Muzyczny
“The soloists were superb, above all the clarity of tenor Christopher Sokolowski.”
Ostschweizerinnen