Reviews
"Even before the start, the all-pervading influence of Cupid in the story of Nero and his consort Poppea is made abundantly clear. As the audience shuffle to their seats, Cupid (a smartly-dressed and knowing Daniel Keating-Roberts) quietly makes preparations: clutching a pair of his arrows, he stands over a scale-sized, plywood model of the cloisters, measures up figures and consults blueprints; part of the cloisters themselves are clad in plywood, arrows variously embedded. His is very much a work in progress, one feels, and it's an impression emphasised by decision to stage a prologue to the Prologue. Accompanied by an improvisations from the orchestra, the dramatis personae stumble on in various states of undress, inebriation and intoxication. Cupid's brief has clearly expanded to include drugs and alcohol in this Class-A evocation of first-century Rome." Monteverdi: The Coronation of Poppea, The Early Opera Company
The small ensemble (about 15 musicians) was ably led by Derek Clark, the different textures of each piece shining through with clarity. The singing was uniformly strong, but the stand-outs of the night were Dean Robinson, Lise Christensen and counter-tenor Daniel Keating-Roberts who brought characterful beauty to the farmer in The Lightning Rod Man." Five - 15 Operas Made in Scotland, Scottish Opera
"Others, less experienced but seemingly with plenty of stage confidence, already coupled with real vocal talent...Daniel Keating-Roberts (ct, Amor) seemed to relish the dramatic opportunities Montiverdi offers...Keating-Roberts has an unusually strong counter-tenor which, coupled with an eye for comedy, gave indications of a natural talent in the manner of a Robson or Visse" Opera Today
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" Daniel Keating-Roberts as Mars, red bodied as well as red blooded in this production, has an astonishingly powerful and well produced counter-tenor. He made a strong impression." Opera magazine
"'DANIEL IS STAR OF FEATIVE OPENER' ...Yet this year produced a magical bonus: at 23, the counter-tenor, Daniel Keating-Roberts, is the best young alto I have heard for many a year.
A former cathedral chorister, at home in this setting, the voice is truly and gently mellifluous.
None of the nasal, strangulated vocals so often associated with this register: just pure tone, effortlessly produced by a singer I predict has a brilliant future. Liverpool Echo
"The vocal range of the singers, some of whom were very young, was remarkable. Final year music student Daniel Keating-Roberts as Mars was little short of magnificent, with a high, silvery vocal register." Galway Advertiser
"...becoming a famous singer has distinct possibilities. Anyone who has heard the young counter-tenor in the last 12 months... will agree. There is a strong suggestion that singing counter-tenor came naturally to Daniel, given the easy, melifluous flow, projection and power of his singing." Feature, Sheffield Telegraph, 'Stars in Making'
"Sheffield were fortunate to have the highly promising young, high counter-tenor Daniel Keating-Roberts on hand to ring the sexual changes. This emotionally wide-ranging Mars, physically and vocally striking, provided the lynchpin of the drama." Zarzuela magazine
"...and counter-tenor Daniel Keating-Roberts who brought characterful beauty to the farmer in The Lightning Rod Man..." Five - 15 Operas Made in Scotland: The Scottish National Opera -
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