Aspen Times
Most of Saturday’s singers also are cast in Händel’s Rodelinda, to be presented semi-staged on the festival’s final weekend. The showstopper Saturday was Key’mon Murrah, a countertenor with an extraordinarily high range, rich tone and terrific presence. He got a standing ovation, a rare occurrence in these classes, for the long aria about stages of grief, “Furie terribili,” ( Actually "Scherza infida") from Rinaldo, and as the morning’s finale he joined soprano Yvette Keong for a deliciously sweet duet, “Bramo aver mille vite,” from Ariodante. (Keong was Papagena in The Magic Flute earlier this summer.)
SCHMOPERA
"Countertenor Keymon Murrah, arrayed with a flamboyant eagle warrior headdress, greatly impressed in the role of Mexican general Asprano, which calls for numerous bravura scales very high in the soprano range; one of his arias had trumpeter Casey Goldman assuming a very extroverted star role alongside him. The word “unreal” was justifiably invoked many times after this performance to describe his expressive and effulgent vocal acrobatics."
Theater Jones
"The vocal standout in this production was countertenor Keymon Murrah. Often reserved as a soprano role, his rendition of the Mexican army general, Asprano, was astounding—equal in both technical prowess and drama. His tone moves comfortably high above the staff, with rounded high C’s and a rapid coloratura that demanded frequent praise from the audience. His interpretation of “Dal timor, dallo spavento” was shaded with a lovely darkness that appropriately countered the bright strings with long, emotive lines and rounded shaping."
Dallas News
"Countertenor Keymon Murrah, as the Aztec general Asprano, ventured surely and powerfully into soprano territory, with a hot-coals core of tone."
