Larcher: The Hunting Gun – Aldeburgh Festival 2019

“As the Poet, Samuel Boden channels the quartet’s agonies while standing apart from the action, and his tenor is heard at its most eloquent.” 
ClassicalSource.com, 7th June 2019

“Samuel Boden gave a solid interpretation of the Poet.”
Financial Times, 11 June 2019

“The opera was extremely well cast and acted in a slow and minimalist sort of way. Samuel Boden (Poet) looked the part from head to toe not only by his style and dress but also by his actions.” 
Planet Hugill, 13th June 2019

“Samuel Boden …[was] in all respects first class …”
The Observer, 15 June 2019

Benjamin: Lessons in love and Violence – Opéra de Lyon

“Peter Hoare imposes a Mortimer of biting lines and vindictive force, which contrasts with the ethereal timbre of Samuel Boden, the heir.”
Toute la Culture, 3 June 2019

“The impotence of the king’s son is aptly diffused through the clear timbre of Samuel Boden.“
Resmusica, 30 May 2019

“the Young Boy, then the young King, are superbly incarnated by the tenor Samuel Boden, whose voice, always at ease in the crystalline high notes and excellently projected, is an object of permanent delight.”
Classique News, 25 May 2019

“Samuel Boden plays the Boy and Young King with a clear and bright timbre gaining confidence in parallel with his character, at first naive and innocent, then putting aside his doubts once the crown is on his head to avenge his father.”
Opera Online, 20 May 2019

“The tenor Samuel Boden embodies with accuracy and talent, the flexibility and vivacity of his acting, with clear top notes and excellent projection, the character of the Boy, then the Young King”
Forum Opéra, 20 May 2019

“A beautiful lyric tenor, Samuel Boden, was heard in the role of the young king.”
Online Merker, 18 May 2019

“Samuel Boden excels as a Young King in a clear and well-timed voice and translates his passage from innocent childhood to the conscious adult of his power.”
ODB-Opéra, 18 May 2019

“And Samuel Boden seems to be watching his development from the crown prince to the hard-hitting king with almost childlike innocence from afar. Vocally as enthralling as the whole ensemble.”
O-Ton, 16 May 2019

“The tenor Samuel Boden is the young boy, with a soft and clear voice, deliberately innocent and naive, nevertheless sufficiently projected, then gaining confidence in the final scene, where he became a Young King avenging his father and making up for his mistakes by banishing music, while keeping his youthful freshness.”
Olyrix, 15 May 2019

“Samuel Boden remain[s] outstanding”
Classica, May 2019

Benjamin: Lessons in love and Violence – Hamburg

“Samuel Boden does so with bright high pitched tenor, an angelic voice that exudes innocence and reports with icy coldness of the brutal torture and the shooting of Mortimer”
Oper Aktuell, 18 April 2019

“With his mellifluous tenor, and evidently very comfortable in the high register … Samuel Boden is as ready to inhabit the youth of the Son as to shed his psychological skin in the compelling finale where he asserts his power by avenging the death of a father whose body is still warm. ” 
Forum Opera, 7 April 2019

“Lessons in Love and Violence” nominated for an Olivier Award

George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence has been nominated for an Olivier Award in the category Best New Opera Production.

This darkly dramatic new opera was a major event in contemporary music – the latest collaboration between composer George Benjamin and playwright Martin Crimp. Conducted by Benjamin, the world premiere of Lessons in Love and Violence took place at the Royal Opera House in May 2018 and starred an internationally renowned cast including baritone Stéphane Degout as King Edward II, soprano Barbara Hannigan as Queen Isabel, baritone Gyula Orendt as Gaveston, tenor Peter Hoare as Mortimer and Samuel Boden as Boy / Young King.

Benjamin: Lessons in Love and Violence – Royal Opera House

Samuel Boden as Boy/Young King, Barrington-Cook and Barbara Hannigan – Lessons in Love and Violence: ROH May 2018. Photo by Stephen Cummiskece

“…one can only admire the valiant ensemble performance, with…tenor Samuel Boden’s pure-toned royal successor…making the most of [his] very demanding part…”
Independent, 11th May 2018

“Samuel Boden makes a pivotal contribution as the Boy”
What’s on Stage, 11th May 2018

“For the cast, I have nothing but praise:…Sam Boden makes his mark as the boy king with a nasty surprise up his royal sleeve.”
The Telegraph, 11th May 2018

“Samuel Boden is inspired casting as the Boy, growing up to be King.”
Financial Times, 11th January 2018

Samuel Boden as Boy/Young King, Barrington-Cook, Stéphane Degout and Barbara Hannigan in ‘Lessons in Love and Violence’: ROH May 2018. Photo by Stephen Cummiskece

“…Edward III is initially the Boy and later the Young King (sympathetically realised by Samuel Boden).”
The Stage, 11th May 2018

“Samuel Boden is firm yet delicate as the Boy/Young King.”
The Guardian, 19th May 2018

“The son, gracefully sung by tenor Samuel Boden, is clearly intended to be Edward III but is here named “Boy/Young King,”
Opera News, 10th October 2018