As Count - Marriage of Figaro- Orlando Opera , November 2019

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Torlef Borsting is in strong voice as the philandering Count in Opera Orlando's production of "The Marriage of Figaro." 

Everyone is well-cast for the roles, beyond their singing prowess. Torlef Borsting doesn’t downplay the Count’s hardness of heart. 

Orlando Sentinel 

 

 

As Giorgio Germont – La Traviata – Opera San Jose

 

“An outstanding rendition of Alfredo’s father was sung by baritone Torlef Borsting.......his handling of the famed aria ‘ Di provenza il mar il suol’ was purest Verdi at his best and a show stopper.”

Mort Levine – Milpitas Post (Feb 15th, 2012)

 

“Baritone Torlef Borsting was in commanding voice as Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s meddling father.”

Richard Scheinin – San Jose Mercury News (Feb 13th, 2012)

 

 

As Marcello - La Boheme - Opera San Jose

 

“Baritone Torlef Borsting, as the painter Marcello, was richly resonant and impassioned, going toe-to-toe in his duets with Boyer (Rodolfo).”

Richard Scheinin - The Mercury News (April 24th, 2011)

 

“The rest of the incredibly strong cast (including the large crowd of singers, supernumeraries, and children in the grand Second Act street scene) shone with individual radiance. Rodolfo’s friends Marcello (Torlef Borsting), Colline (Isaiah Musik-Ayala), and Schaunard (Daniel Cilli) were lively, hilarious and heart felt in their love for Mimi, Rodolfo, and each other.”

Out and About Magazine (April 26th, 2011)

 

“When the main couple was not swooning over each other, the opera is filled with other exciting distractions. Marcello (Torlef Borsting) and the rest of the motley crew of poverty-stricken-yet-happy artists produced a fun racket with their tomfoolery.”

Beeri Moalem - The Examiner (April 25th, 2011)

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As Dr. Bartolo - Il Barbiere di Siviglia - Opera San Jose

 

“A resident artist with the company, Torlef Borsting, who hails from Hawaii, takes on the challenging role Dr. Bartolo. He has the requisite heft in his baritone vocalism, but he didn’t quite cut it as an enfeebled 60-plus ready for Medicare. In fact, he showed off the spryness of a 30 yr old, which he may well be. He is a good physical actor and in the shaving scene does some artful bouncing around the stage with his barber.”

Mort Levine - The Mercury News  (Feb. 16th, 2011)

 

“In the role of Dr. Bartolo, Torlef Borsting held the stage with swaggering authority, booming baritone and explosive rages over his failures.”

Scott McClelland - SanJose.com/ the Metro (Feb. 17th, 2011)

 

“Doctor Bartolo (Torlef Borsting) was also convincing in his part.”

Iride Aparicio - Cultural World Bilingual (Feb. 24th, 2011) 

 

As Baron Scarpia - Tosca - Opera San Jose

 

“Current resident, Torlef Borsting, did superbly as Scarpia favoring ‘nasty’ and ‘creepy’ on the Scarpia buffett. He did especially well with the divinely hypocritical Te Deum, over the excellent singing of the OSJ chorus.”

Michael Vaughn - Operaville  (Nov. 14th, 2010)

 

“Another throaty singer, OSJ resident Torlef Borsting, produced a beautifully sung Scarpia; his finely judged sadism offered considerable compensation for a voice that lacks malicious bite.”

Jason Victor Serinus - Opera News (Nov. 28th, 2010)

 

As Alexei Vronsky - Anna Karenina - Opera San Jose

 

“The acting is superb all around with special kudos to Torlef Borsting’s ‘Vronsky,’ home wrecker, who I can’t stand.”

Wanda Sabir - Interchange (Sept. 12th, 2010)

 

“Anna’s chemistry with Vronsky (Torlef Borsting) is less immediate, but when she succumbs to her illicit passions with him, their two elements combust to form a burning passionate flame in a scene that is the highlight of the first act.”

Beeri Moalem - San Francisco Examiner (Sept.13th, 2010)

 

As the Second Apprentice - Wozzeck - Ensemble Parallele

 

“In a smaller role, that of the Second Apprentice, the voice of baritone Torlef Borsting literally leaped out of the crowd. (One hopes for more of the same this fall, when Borsting joins Opera San Jose as a resident singer.)”

Richard Scheinin - San Jose Mercury News (Feb 1, 2010)

 

 

As Horace Tabor - The Ballad of Baby Doe - Berkeley Opera

“Torlef Borsting is a powerful Tabor both vocally and in his acting.”

Suzanne Weiss - culture vulture.net (July 17, 2009)

 

"Baby Doe is played by soprano Jillian Khuner, who had taken many leads in the earlier days of the troupe. She plays opposite the expansive, bigger-than-life Tabor of baritone Torlef Borsting."
D. Rane Danubian - artssf.com (July 16, 2009)

"The chemistry seemed charming and ingratiating between Jillian’s sweet and innocent and lonely MidWestern young woman and the burly, bearded and raven haired silver baron Horace Tabor, played by Torlef Borsting. What a wonderful rich and warm voice to match the persona."
Cindy Warner - San Francisco Examiner (July 16, 2009)

"The role of Horace Tabor, was sung with appropriate gusto by rakishly handsome baritone, Torlef Borsting, who moved convincingly from rowdy full-voice banter at the saloon with his pals to sotto voce crooning to Baby Doe. His love song to her, “Warm as the Autumn Night” was especially beautiful."
Cheryl North - Contra Costa Times (July 13, 2009)

 

As baritone soloist- Haydn Mass in a Time of War - Oakland Symphony Chorus

"Fine choral balance and blend characterized the Gloria, which also featured the heroic baritone Torlef Borsting powerfully delivering the Qui Tollis section."
Joseph Sargent - San Francisco Classical Voice (Feb. 3, 2009)

 

 

As Sgt. Belcore in L'Elisir d'amore - Berkeley Opera
 

"Torlef Borsting was the preening Sgt. Belcore, his burly baritone easily capturing this character's laughable self-assurance. Borsting was likewise at ease with the score's many quickly paced passages, his articulation always clear and full of comic bite."

James Koelker - Napa Valley Register (April 30, 2008)
 

"The largest, most sonorous voice belonged to baritone Torlef Borsting, the Belcore...... the voice is handsome enough to have earned him several secondary roles with San Francisco Opera." Jason Victor Serinus - Opera News (March 16th, 2008)
 

"Torlef Borsting has a lovely baritone and has some fun with Belcore's preening swagger.." Sam Hurwitt - East Bay Express (March 19th, 2008)
 

"Torlef Borsting is an admirably smarmy Sgt. Belcore, puffed up with himself..." Ken Bullock - The Berkeley Daily Planet (March 21st, 2008)
 

"Two completely captivating rogues complete the cast: big velvety-voiced Torlef Borsting as Belcore....." Susan Steinberg - The Livermore Independent (March 27th, 2008)
 

 

‘For the Love of Opera!' North Bay Opera semi-staged concert
 

"Baritone Torlef Borsting sang a richly nuanced  ' Bella siccome un'angelo ' from Donizetti's 1843 opera Don Pasquale, about a gold-digging woman who dupes one man after another. Exhibiting great breath control, Borsting ended the aria with a delicate grace that underscored the music's affecting sentiments."

Richard Bammer - The Vacaville Reporter (March 11th, 2008)
 

 

As Wilmer McLean in Appomattox - San Francisco Opera

 

“As McLean, Torlef Borsting pitifully clutches a framed painting as strangers burst into his house and steal every scrap of furniture, finally tearing down the very walls to leave a steel barren frame.”

Chloe Veltman - Sfweekly.com (October 17, 2007)

 

 

 

As Jack Rance in the Girl of the Golden West - Berkeley Opera
 

"Baritone Torlef Borsting was aptly menacing....as the Sheriff Jack Rance."

Joshua Kosman - The San Francisco Chronicle (July 21, 2007)