Opera Theatre’s Premiere Of “This House” Delivers Haunting Beauty But Falters Under Narrative Sprawl

POP LIFE STL

Baritone Justin Austin brings supple emotional nuance to the role of Lindon, Ida’s son, while Christian Pursell lends warmth and pathos to Thomas, Lindon’s lover.

CHAS ADAMS

Review: THIS HOUSE at Opera Theatre Of St. Louis

BROADWAY WORLD

And when Lindon’s gay lover Tom (Christopher Pursell) arrives to urge Lindon to come with him to Spain … Wow!! Things get suddenly OPERA! I never realized how gorgeously dramatic the word “Valencia!” is. When sung with such an astonishing voice as Mr. Pursell’s it is a very fanfare—it’s almost an opera in itself!

STEVE CALLAHAN

Haymarket Opera opens season with Chicago debut of an excavated “Ester”

CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW

Bass-baritone Christian Pursell capably portrayed Aman’s cartoonish villainy, with a huge, resonant voice and beautiful diction that underlined the character’s declarations of violence. Throughout the performance, his committed physicality lent a modicum of humor to the character to soften the impact of his stentorian vocal delivery.

LANDON HEGEDUS

MasterVoices 2025 Review: Blind Injustice

OPERA WIRE

Christian Pursell was potent in his opening aria, his singing thunderous as he proclaimed his credo with confidence, the voice booming into the hall. And he retained this directness throughout every one of his interjections. There was an aggressiveness throughout his performance that matched the authoritarian depiction of the Prosecution lawyer and was neatly counterpointed by Joshua Dennis’ more gentle vocalism.

DAVID SALAZAR

MasterVoices’ “Blind Injustice” lifts up the wrongly convicted with eclectic music

NEW YORK CLASSICAL REVIEW

Bass-baritone Christian Pursell’s Prosecutor was all fury and inner conflict, his tight dark suit and briefcase fairly bursting with accusations as he resonantly defended his right to “do my job,” but ultimately confessed to doubts about what he had done.

DAVID WRIGHT