Derek Welton’s recent début in the role of Wotan in Wagner’s Die Walküre has been met with critical acclaim. Reviews of the performances include:

‘Derek Welton is unsurpassable as Wotan.’ – Kölner Stadtanzeiger

‘Derek Welton is at home in the Wagner world and is a welcome guest in the great bass-baritone roles at all major houses. Hearing him live as Wotan for the first time today is absolutely thrilling. His voice sounds intoxicatingly beautiful in all registers. It seems to know no boundaries. In his stage play, Wotan’s inner conflicts become apparent: His excessive anger seems deceptively real. What is even more impressive, however, is to hear how his heart softens through Brünnhilde’s speech, to feel how much he punishes himself by punishing Brünnhilde. Sung by Welton, the final aria is the most touching of Lied-singing in the greatest of opera.’ – Klassik begeistert

‘Derek Welton stands out among the top-class cast as Wotan with his voluminous and attractive bass-baritone. His facial expressions and body language emphasise his feelings.’ – Das Opernmagazin

‘Derek Welton is a Wotan dazzling with power and presence.’ – Forum Opéra

‘Frustration, authority, love, ego: there is no side of Wotan that bass-baritone Derek Welton does not portray wonderfully. The marital quarrel between him and Fricka is a theatrical highlight.’ – De Volkskrant

‘Derek Welton’s sonorous Wotan dominated just as it should, but was also moving in his farewell to his daughter.’ – Trouw

‘Derek Welton became Lord and King of Valhalla yesterday. His impressive performance contained everything we could have wished for: he portrayed Wotan as a ruler, father and man both strong and failing. His vocal confidence as well as his perfect portrayal of the role were a great experience for the audience, who saw an operatic character created in astonishing vocal and interpretational flexibility.’ – Opera Plus

‘The sought-after Wagnerian bass-baritone Derek Welton gave a stirring performance. He supported his amazing singing lines with a charismatic acting performance in expression and gesticulation, for which he received a proper ovation. One could almost say that he created the prototype of an angry, but also a remorseful ruler. He almost overshadowed everyone on stage.’ – Aktuálně

‘Derek Welton endowed the role of the ruler of the world with tireless sonority in his compelling baritone, as well as by his movement and attitude on stage. He was able to transform his imperious tones into a sound of urgency and conversationally evasive manoeuvring in the scene with his wife Fricka, and even to a dreamy kindness in the scene of reminiscence at the rejection of his unfortunate daughter.’ – Klasika Plus

‘Derek Welton was a pleasantly human Wotan, whose fury was even able to strike fear into the heart of his fearlessly free favourite daughter, Brünnhilde, along with all the other Valkyries. His powerful timbre impressed with its utmost sophistication and never became brittle, even in the angriest finale.’ – Neue Musikzeitung

Performances take place in Prague (9 March), Amsterdam (16 March), Cologne (24 March) and Hamburg (1 May).