Tenor Soloist: Handel's Messiah
Los Angeles Master Chorale
"The first soloist of the night was Norman, who has a voice that echoes with a pleasing bountifulness. His aria of “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted” in Part the First brimmed with joy and contentedness; and his recitative of “He that dwelleth in Heaven” as well as his aria of “Though shalt break them” in Part the Second lay in the air with the reminder of a kind-hearted forgiveness, inlaid with a staunch solemnity." - Imaan Jalali, LA Excites
Long Beach Camerata Singers
"Norman’s clear, bright tenor had no trouble with coloratura in "Ev’ry Valley" or the pathos in Part 2.” - Jim Ruggirello, Grunion Gazette
Tenor Soloist : Songs of Ascent
Los Angeles Master Chorale
“On Saturday, this juxtaposition was illustrated poignantly through the piece’s soloists. Standing on opposite sides of Disney Hall stage, smooth-voiced tenor Robert Norman and the forceful baritone Abdiel Gonzalez faced off and belted out their identical but opposing positions: God is on my side. Not yours.” - Catherine Womack, Los Angeles Times
“Robert Norman‘s tenor voice gets richer every year, with more dramatic power than he usually gets to show off in the hilarity of his comic stage roles. It was wonderful to see him in this guise, where his voice could really shine on its own. Abdiel Gonzalez’s... magnetic presence paired exceptionally well with Mr. Norman’s, for a duet that lit a fire under Psalm 129, ‘Many a time they have afflicted me.’” - Lauri D. Goldenhersh, Lauri’s List
“Chorale members Robert Norman and Abdiel Gonzalez sang and acted the warring factions admirably and ended in a long hug of reconciliation.” - Truman C. Wang, Classical Voice
Pedrillo: Abduction from the Seraglio
Dayton Opera
"Robert Norman's Pedrillo was feisty and funny..." - Joe Law, Opera News
Opera Orlando
"Robert Norman has all the tics of Spock — the tilt of the head, the flat inflection when speaking. And he displays spot-on (Spock-on?) comic reactions as the object of a song full of sexual innuendo." - Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel
Festival Opera
"Tenor Robert Norman... a veteran of this production, made an amusingly poker-faced Spock, and brought nimble vocal clarity to the part." - Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle
"Pedrillo, sung by the clear-toned character tenor Robert Norman, proved admirably logical..." - Ilana Walder-Biesanz, Stark Insider
"Robert Norman exuded nerdy charm as the logical Mr. Pedrillo..." - Georgia Rowe, San Jose Mercury News
Pacific Opera Project
"Robert Norman as Spock / Pedrillo has just the perfect deadpan to be Spock, and yet the slyness and humor of Nimoy's character that always battles with his human side." - Charles Karel Bouley, HuffPost
"His voice is sublime, and he delivers perhaps the best aria in the show..." - Georja Umano, LA Splash Magazine
"As the half-Vulcan & half-human Mr. Pedrillo, tenor Robert Norman brought humor and vocal talent to his interpretation of the intellectual, cold fish character made famous by the late Leonard Nimoy as the original Mr. Spock... his performance was one of the highlights of the evening." - Humberto Capiro, Living Out Loud - LA
Goro: Madama Butterfly
Opera San Jose
"The strong supporting singers included tenor Robert Norman as the oily marriage broker Goro; his singing flowed, easy to enjoy." - Richard Scheinin, San Jose Mercury News
"As Goro, the marriage arranger - perhaps the most widely interpreted role in the opera - tenor Robert Norman opts for persnickety hyper-anxiousness that probably best reflects reality." - Michael J. Vaughn, Operaville
Loge: Das Rheingold
Opera Santa Barbara
"Robert Norman was delightful as the trickster and comically sassy Loge, God of Fire..." - Robert F. Adams, The Voice Magazine
Nika Magadoff: The Consul
Dayton Opera
"...Robert Norman, a fine tenor as The Magician, managed to be both funny and pitiful." - Rafael de Acha, Seen and Heard International
"Robert Norman was thoroughly entertaining as Nika Magadoff, the magician." - Joe Law, Opera News
Sellem: The Rake's Progress
Pacific Opera Project
"Of course, the business venture fails, and now it’s time for him to sell all his assets in an auction presided over by Robert Norman in a short but very funny performance." - Humberto Capiro, Living Out Loud, LA
"The raucous auction scene that follows, where Tom’s possessions (including his wife) are sold off, is worth the price of admission alone." - David Maurer, Culture Spot LA
Tobias Ragg: Sweeney Todd
Townsend Opera / Fresno Grand Opera
"Other principals in this production offer a similar heightened sense of character... Robert Norman as the young boy Tobias, a beacon of innocence in the gritty, cutthroat 19th century London of the play... Norman’s soaring 'Not While I’m Around' take us emotional places that I don’t think a non-opera-singer could match." - Donald Munro, The Fresno Bee
Monostatos: The Magic Flute
Pacific Opera Project
"Robert Norman was a wiry, characterful Monastotos, his secure, nimble tenor emanated from a fleet-footed, loose-limbed physicality that was benignly menacing.” - James Sohre, Opera Today
"Robert Norman was a fine character tenor who made Monostatos a memorable villain." - Maria Nockin, Broadway World
Little Bat: Susannah
Festival Opera
"Robert Norman, as Little Bat, who adores Susannah, was particularly convincing in two scenes in which he sings to her of the hatred of the churchgoers — and of his own betrayal of her." - Nicholas Jones, San Francisco Classical Voice
Opera Pasadena
"Robert Norman provided depth and texture in his supporting role." - Hoyt Hillsman, HuffPost
Don Ottavio: Don Giovanni
Pacific Opera Project
"Don Ottavio, sung by Robert Norman with a truly lovely, Mozartean tenor..." - Jim Farber, San Francisco Classical Voice
"Robert Norman gave a well-thought-out interpretation of Don Ottavio. He sang 'Il mio tesoro' with tastefully restrained, smoothly controlled tone." - Maria Nockin, Broadway World
"Robert Norman is the lone tenor in the cast but has plenty of talent to hold his own in a show that mostly showcases the lower male register. He has a velvety sound that blends beautifully with Ms. Frank in their duets..." - Loren Lester, Schmopera
"Tenor Robert Norman, another POP regular, giving one of his best performances to date that I have been lucky to enjoy." - Humberto Capiro, Living Out Loud, LA
Pang: Turandot
Dayton Opera
"Ping, Pang and Pong, the frenzied court officials, are the only humor relief in the opera. Our trio, Robert Norman, Kenneth Stavert and Michael Anderson, have been great assets to Dayton Opera with wonderful vocal gifts and outstanding stage presences. These young artists bring life and vivre to every role." - Burt Saidel, Oakwood Register
Remendado: Carmen
Pacific Opera Project
"...Norman's comedic skills have grown a great deal, with impeccable timing to match an equally admirable tenor..." - Lauri D. Goldenhersh, Lauri's List
