Bass Julian Close left his indelible mark on the Longborough Festival's Der Ring des Nibelungen this past summer. Julian portrayed the memorable characters of Hunding in the cycle's second opera, Die Walküre, and Hagen in its finale, Götterdämmerung. Across the board, he was lauded for his strong, dark-timbered bass and his menacing stage presence. Check out some of his excellent mentions below.
"We met Julian Close earlier in the week as Hunding (Die Walküre), and here he returned as the calculating and icy Hagen, his oak-aged tones adding much to a brooding portrayal enhanced by an unnerving stillness, his minimal movement generating maximum impact."
"I admired Julian Close as a strong Hunding in Walküre, and in the final opera he gave a gripping portrayal of the cleverly scheming Hagen."
"Julian Close embodies a Hunding who is all of a piece and very menacing, with a voice whose dark timbre is as much appreciated as the beauty of the vocal line."
"If Hagen feels the dominant force in the opera, it is also because Julian Close’s portrayal of him is so commanding. His powerful bass captivates the listener with its darkness, strength and security, and he skillfully presents Hagen as a figure who has been totally numbed by being born with no love, and with the sole aim of obtaining the ring."
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