RECENT REVIEWS
April 2023
“We should not forget one of the most squillante (resonant, strong, timbral, brilliant) voices of this evening, the Lithuanian baritone voice of Kostas Smoriginas, who left a unique impression when performing the part of Kurwenal for the brilliance of his voice tone, for the strong melodiousness of his voice, a very strong and impressive voice, for his complete performance as a loyal devotee of Tristan.
It is not known whether the closeness of the text to the music is as strong as that dedication in some passages because it is difficult to reach such a high level in a hemisphere that is found in ever-changing tonalities.”
PRESS:
Hamburg Carmen announcement/IAM:
Bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas will reprise his signature role of Escamillo in the revival of Herbert Fritsch’s Carmen, following his house debut in the role in Hamburg this season. ’Kostas Smoriginas is a smouldering, god’s-gift Escamillo, impressively taking on the convulsively staged bullring crowds of Act Four.’ Classical Source For Smoriginas, next season also includes return appearances to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in two new productions.
Jochanaan in Strauss’ Salome / Opernhaus Zürich cond. Simone Young dir. Andreas Homoki
“Kostas Smoriginas is a discovery for me…. There too the voice is beautiful, powerful and broad but remains youthful, which gives us a “confrontation” between two young people and reinforces the game of seduction / repulsion magnificently orchestrated by the staging of Homoki. Their gestures are bold and almost athletic for a kind of perpetual motion that quickly becomes emotionally very haunting and very successful. And what a beautiful homogeneous tone from treble to bass, in addition to an impressive and vaguely disturbing presence in which he embodies the possible “revolutions” of this world so well that he loathes.”
Passion Opera, September 2021
“This was from Kostas Smoriginas interpreted with a sonorous bass baritone. He knew how to convey the song-like character of the part’s simple melody (compared to the other protagonists) with an engaging beauty and yet to put an abysmal sparkle into the superficiality of the melody.”
Oper Aktuell, September 2021
“Stunning bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas plays an animal Jochanaan, a dark and disillusioned soul who physically tires himself repeating his self-proclaimed religious truths.”
Opera Online, September 2021
“Kostas Smoriginas, a Lithuanian bass, was resonant and had excellent stage presence.”
Seen and Heard, September 2021
“Kostas Smoriginas embodied a strong Jochanaan and we can congratulate him on his debut at this house.”
Das Opernmagazin, September 2021
Jochanaan in Strausss Salomé / Staatsoper Hannover, cond. Stephan Zilias / dir. Ingo Kerkhof
“Kostas Smoriginas is a profound Jochanaan.”
Hannover Allgemeine, November 2019
Almaviva in Mozart Le nozze di Figaro / Malmö Opera, cond. Evan Rogister dir. Peter Stein
“Kostas Smoriginas sang a woody, aristocratic Almaviva whose height and physique proved dramatically useful.”
Opera News, February 2017
Rachmaninov Aleko / Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie, cond. Mikhail Tatarnikov, dir. Silviu Purcărete
“Aleko… magnificently sung by the bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas.”
La Libré
Rachmaninov The Bells / Boston Symphony Orchestra, cond. Andris Nelsons
“The impressive Lithuanian bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas, whose career seems to be shifting into high gear, in the sombre last movement devoted to the funeral bells – more than fulfilled their obligations.”
Berkshire Fine Arts
“Truly sensational singing poured forth expansively from young Lithuanian bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas. Remember the name: he sounded like a young Tom Krause and sang with the same musicality and commitment.”
Gay City News
Count Monterone in Verdi’s Rigoletto / Bregenzer Festspiele cond. Julia Jones and Daniel Cohen dir. Philipp Stölzl
“Count Monterone, who with his curse gave this opera its original name and also the last word Rigolettos (“La maledizione”), is a gloomy, terrifying and at the same time dominating figure, embodied imposingly by the Lithuanian baritone Kostas Smoriginas.”
Klassik begeistert, July 2021
“Thundering and hieratic enough Kostas Smoriginas in the role of Monterone.”
Opera Libera, August 2021
“Count Monterone (dark and powerful: Kostas Smoriginas), who first sets the dramatic events of the opera in motion”
Der Standard, July 2021
Count Monterone in Verdi Rigoletto / Bregenz Festival / cond. Enrique Mazzola, dir. Philipp Stölzl
“As Monterone, Kostas Smoriginas offered a cavernous bass-baritone that could command the stage with a single phrase.”
OperaWire, August 2019
“Kostas Smoriginas – count Monterone showed off a deep and dignified voice.”
L’ape musicale, August 2019
Title role in Rachmaninov Troika / La Monnaie, cond. Mikhail Tatarnikov, dir. Kirsten Dehlholm
“Kostas Smoriginas is particularly powerful in the title role”
Opera, January 2017
Mozart Il nozze di Figaro / New Orleans Opera
“As Figaro, bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas sang with power and clarity, at his best when venting righteous anger on learning of Almaviva’s designs on Susanna the night before her scheduled marriage.”
New Orleans Advocate
Scarpia in Puccini Tosca / Opéra de Rouen, cond. Eivind Gullberg-Jensen, dir. David Bobée
“The cast is dominated by Kostas Smoriginas as Scarpia, a young Machiavellian seducer who sings as well as he acts.”
ResMusica, March 2020
“Kostas Smoriginas reveals a consistency in the vocal line and power that has the advantage of saving the common effects that so many interpretations of this sordid character have.”
Olyrix, March 2020
“Kostas Smoriginas, with his powerful and warm voice, plays a hieratic, marmoreal, icy Scarpia. An internalized, even minimalist game, happily avoiding any effect. The perfect villain and without an ounce of vulgarity.”
Un fauteuil pour l’orchestre, March 2020
“The bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas plays a Scarpia who is extremely attractive, with these fascinating aesthetics that exist in Fascism or Nazism, despite the moral and political disgust that they generate.”
Paris Normandie, March 2020
“Kostas Smoriginas, a promising young bass-baritone with a powerful and colourful voice, interprets the role of Scarpia successfully, and will only get richer overtime when his physique has grown.”
Forum Opéra, March 2020
Escamillo in Bizet Carmen / Royal Opera House, cond. Jakub Hrůša, dir. Barrie Kosky
“He makes an attractive, silky voiced Escamillo.”
Guardian, February 2018
“Kostas Smoriginas is a smouldering, god’s-gift Escamillo, impressively taking on the convulsively staged bullring crowds of Act Four.”
Classical Source, February 2018
Rubinstein The Demon / La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra, cond. Mikhail Tatarnikov
“The real revelation of the evening is the young Lithuanian bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas… The voice is splendid, powerful and rich in a great variety of colours. But Smoriginas is also a fine musician who manages to give a lot of humanity to his character, and to make him almost sympathetic despite his dark designs.”
Forum Opera
“Possessed of a magnificent voice and a superior demeanour, Kostas Smoriginas is impressive in the splendid title role, convincingly demonstrating its psychological evolution.”
Concerto Net
Bizet Carmen / Pacific Symphony Orchestra
“Smoriginas swaggered into Lillas Pastia’s café as the reigning bullfighter and sang his ‘Toreador Song’ with resonant, robust sounds. He seemed to be having fun with the role and the part fit him perfectly.”
Opera Today