Press: Jan 01 2016 | Christopher Corwin | Parterre.com
". . . Nicolas Testé shone as the handsome, implacable high priest Nourabad. His lean, forceful bass-baritone rang out with such security and idiomatic French style . . ."
Anthony Tommasini | The New York Times
“. . . a dream cast . . . delivers in this sensitive and insightful production . . . Leila is a virgin priestess who must keep her vows on pain of death, an edict enforced by the high priest Nourabad (Nicolas Testé, a fine bass-baritone), who accompanies her.”
Eli Jacobson | Gay City News
“Native Frenchman Nicolas Testé . . . imbued the priest Nourabad with a mellow soft-grained bass-baritone and a handsome brooding presence.”
Susan Brodie | Classical Voice North America
“In the small part of Nourabad, the priest who accompanies Leila, the suave bass Nicolas Testé gave a lesson in French style.”
George Grella | New York Classical Review
“Bass-baritone Nicolas Testé delivered a solid portrayal of the officious hight priest Nourabad.”
Richard Sasanow | BroadwayWorld
“The last of the principals was bass-baritone Nicolas Teste as the heavy of the piece, Nourabad, the high priest, who does his best to break Leila’s spirit in the name of Brahma. His resonant voice made me wish he had more singing in the piece.”
Martin Bernheimer | FT.com
“Nicolas Testé exudes stern authority as the nasty priest of Brahma.”
David Salazar | Latin Post
“Props also go to the remaining cast and chorus members, most notably Nicolas Testé who made his Nourabad a fierce and somewhat menacing figure.”
Heidi Waleson | Wall Street Journal
“Bass-baritone Nicolas Testé ably completed the cast as Nourabad . . .”
Wilborn Hampton | The Huffington Post
“It has taken the Met Opera 100 years to get Bizet’s Les Pecheurs de Perles back on the stage, but the new production the company unveiled in a gala New Year’s Eve premiere is such a spectacular success, beautifully sung and acted by a splendid cast and chorus, it should secure the opera a place in the repertory for years to come . . . The French bass Nicolas Teste rounds out the cast as Nourabad, the high priest who brings Leila to the village.”
Robert Levine | Bachtrack
“In the small but sonorous role of Nourabad, the high priest, Nicolas Testé was indeed sonorous.”
Barry Bassis | The Epoch Times
“The cast is outstanding . . . bass-baritone Nicolas Testé is Nourabad. They are all credible actors and outstanding singers.”
News: Nov 29 2015
This winter Nicolas Testé returns to The Metropolitan Opera, as Nourabad in a new production of Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles, December 31 and January 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 23, 27 & 30, 2016. Diana Damrau sings Leïla, Matthew Polenzani is Nadir, and Mariusz Kwiecien is Zurga in this Penny Woodcock production, with the opera gracing the Met stage for the first time in company history. Maestro Gianandrea Noseda leads the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus for this new staging, which will also receive a Live in HD broadcast into theaters worldwide, on January 16.
News: Jan 12 2016
The Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles, featuring Nicolas Testé as Nourabad, will receive a worldwide HD broadcast into cinemas on January 16. Tickets and additional information, including encore broadcast dates and a production synopsis, is available at the following link.
“. . . the suave bass Nicolas Testé gave a lesson in French style.” Susan Brodie – Classical Voice North America
“. . . Nicolas Testé shone as the handsome, implacable high priest Nourabad. His lean, forceful bass-baritone rang out with such security and idiomatic French style . . .” Christopher Corwin – Parterre.com
The cast features Diana Damrau as Leila, Matthew Polenzani as Nadir, and Mariusz Kwiecien as Zurga. Gianandrea Noseda conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for this Penny Woolcock directed production.
Image: Ken Howard/The Metropolitan Opera