Count di Luna in “Il Trovatore” at Sarasota Opera

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

“Count Di Luna, sworn enemy and love rival to Manrico, was sung by David Pershall whose beautiful and lusty baritone took flight in an impressive performance. Pershall’s “Il Balen” in Act 2, Scene 2 was spun on a web of gold; his upper middle voice flooding the house and adding more gold leaf to the motif. [His] “E vivo ancor!” was held impressively and indicated his horror that he unknowingly just killed his own brother Manrico.”
–Nino Pantano

Classical Voice North America

“David Pershall bore an appropriately brotherly resemblance to Dougherty’s Manrico, looking physically fit and sporting a nicely trimmed beard. More to the point, he sang beautifully, with a lean, resonant sound and ample power. His polished phrasing of “Il balen” was a high point.”
–George Loomis

YourObserver.com

“David Pershall, making his Sarasota Opera debut as the Count di Luna, was regal and vocally resplendent, vacillating (as Verdi intended) among emotions, from jealousy to lover to executioner, with the ease of the royal pawn he was fated to be.”
–June LeBelle

The Classical Review

“David Pershall looks like the idealized Verdi baritone and, in his company debut, delivered the best all-around performance of the four principals… He sang Count di Luna with strength and expressive focus, his “Il balen del suo sorriso” the evening’s clear highlight.”
–Lawrence A Johnson

Herald Tribune

“Singing with chorus in the shadows of a convent garden, Pershall sang the love song as di Luna recalled the flash of Leonora’s smile. With Michael Schweikardt’s spare yet quite realistic set design, lighting by Ken Yunker to frame a cloudy moonlit night, and exceptional singing by chorus and [Pershall], this scene was perfection.”
–Gayle Williams