REVIEWS
Too Many SOpranos
I love "Too Many Sopranos"...It certainly deserves a place in the repertoire. What a joy to hear a contemporary work written with such understanding for the voices."
"Much to love in "Too Many Sopranos." "Too Many Sopranos is full of life. and it drew constant laughter and cheers"
"the opera was extremely enjoyable to hear and hilarious to see."
"Even in Italy, with a good Italian translation, it would be a great success... The audience is happy and pleased -evidenced by the laughter and the ability to hum the melodies when they left"
"I've been a longtime fan of Ed Penhorwood's songs. However, I was even more enchanted with the performance of his delightful new opera "Too Many Sopranos." This opera is not only beautifully written, with gorgeous singable melodies, but also has an unusual, entertaining libretto. Ed Penhorwood pulls out all the stops in this high-spirited piece, with lively characterization and real charm and wit. It suits young voices to a tee, and would be a wonderful addition to any opera houses repertoire."
"If you wish to have a vocal feast that is at the same time a thigh-slapper aided and abetted by the most tastefully irreverent music and text, don't miss this work that stands up to the best of opera, Broadway and any other music-drama-cum-farce."
SONGS
"Edwin Penhorwood, born in 1939, has composed a Come Walk in the Garden, whose title is self-explanatory and Wild Nights, which goes beyond the canons of the art song to describe, with astonishing grace, the tempests of the heart. Two works.... which we hope to see again soon in France..."
"...five songs by Penhorwood - brief, succinct works which were excellent in grace of vocal line, in setting of English and in the integration of vocal-pianistic textures. It is heartening to see a younger composer today turning out works of this character and quality."
"The music, in the form of art and popular songs, is distinctive. He's managed to suggest contemporaneity even while avoiding, for the most part, the scoopy, choppy, word-drowning nature of so much that has been written for the human voice in recent decades. He has a good sense for what makes an attractive song: melodic magnetism and establishment of emotional atmosphere."
[The Ladies) "This attractive set would be excellent recital material for senior or graduate level baritones or bass-baritones. [Wild Nights] "An exciting song to end a group or program..." [Three Popular Songs] "These clever songs would probably be a hit in any situation where humor is appropriate and the audience is fairly sophisticated."