Chicago classical review
Bass-baritone Christian Pursell, making his Haymarket debut, sang the role of Herod with a rich, rotund timbre, capturing the king of Judea’s pompous self-satisfaction at his birthday honors. At times Pursell’s expression felt somewhat stiff, and one wasn’t entirely convinced he was all that concerned about his wife’s grievances in their extended opening duet (the audience laughed at the singer’s awkward reception of Salome’s request for the head, though there was little to cavil over with his vocalism).
TIM SAWYIER