Reviews & News
Monteverdi's Vespers of 1640
Highlights were plentiful. In a supple rendering of “O Quam Pulchra Es” the tenor Zachary Wilder often seemed to be tailoring his phrasing to take advantage of the church’s vibrant acoustics, and Sumner Thompson matched the passion of Mr. Wilder’s performance in a strong account of “Salve O Regina.”
Allan Kozinn, New York Times
Haendel's Messiah
" Zachary Wilder's noble, Mozartean tenor did full expressive justice to Comfort Ye and Every Valley."
Lawrence Budman, South Florida Classical Review
Haendel's Esther
"...Zachary Wilder sang 'Tune Your Harps' with deliciously lambent lyricism."
Thomas May, Crosscut
Mozart Requiem
"Wilder, a graduate of the University of Houston's Moores School of Music was the standout with simple, elegant, light-tone singing that fit the mood of a funeral work, perfectly."
Charles Ward, Houston Chronicle
Monteverdi's Vespers
"The same version, with a few minor changes, is at the heart of the 400th-anniversary edition of the “Vespers,” which Sorrell, her Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, Apollo’s Singers and a vibrant array of guest vocalists are offering to open the ensemble’s 19th season... ...The vocal soloists brought stylish urgency to their duties, especially the fervent tenors (Zachary Wilder and Richard Edgar-Wilson, echoing one another in several sections)..."
Donald Rosenberg, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Acis and Galatea—Boston Early Music Festival
"Tenor Zachary Wilder turned Coridon’s lone aria, “Would you gain the tender creature,’’ into an affecting oasis, intimate and keenly phrased."
Matthew Guerrieri, Boston Globe
"Zachary Wilder sang Corydon’s celebrated “Would you gain the tender creature” with a plush, mellow-amber tenor"
Paul Horsley, Kansas City Independent
"And as that wig-less shepherd, tenor Zachary Wilder may have contributed the most subtly poignant and openly emotional performance of the night."
Thomas Garvey, Hub Review
"Zachary Wilder's 'Would you gain the tender Creature' stole the evening however. Sung with supreme tenderness and emotional directness, Wilder (Coridon) made every note and embellishment sparkle. The perfectly wrought rendition brought spontaneous applause from the audience and murmurs of 'That was lovely!,' 'Oh my...,' and 'WOW!'"
Lee Hartman, KCMetropolis.org
"While Zachary Wilder as Coridon only had one number, it was beautiful, expressive and a crowd pleaser. In particular, his vocal ornamentation was superb."
Timothy McDonald, Kansas City Star
Beethoven's Gellert Lieder
"The gloomy Gellert songs, op. 48, written when Beethoven was increasingly deaf, were performed effectively by tenor Zachary Wilder and pianist Judith Gordon... Wilder sang particularly well “Die Ehre Gottes aus der Nature,” a song that, unlike the other somber ones, is a tribute to the glories of nature. One moment in “Vom Tode” was emotionally wrenching..."
Larry Phillips, Boston Musical Intelligencer
Monteverdi concert with Tragicommedia
"Aaron Sheehan and Zachary Wilder brought down the house with a crisp, zesty account of 'Zefiro Torna,'..."
Allan Kozinn, New York Times
Monteverdi's L'Incorinazione di Poppea
"Tenor Zachary Wilder, cross-dressing as Ottavia's nurse, is funny without sacrificing inwardness."
Lloyd Schwartz, Boston Phoenix
"Meanwhile, Ottavia's older and frailer handmaid was sung by tenor Zachary Wilder, whose makeup failed to hide a five o'clock shadow. He showed marvelous vocal control from chest to falsetto."
Joseph Dalton, Times Union
"Tenor Zachary Wilder sang Ottavia's Nutrice, a part sometimes omitted entirely, in drag, executing the familiar gestures of this particular comic ploy with terrific flair and aplomb, not a bit less effective than Pudwell in pulling off a laugh. He used falsetto sparingly, and always to great effect."
Michael Miller, Berkshire Review for the Arts
"Ross Hauck, Nell Snaidas, Erica Schuller, Deborah Rentz-Moore, Aaron Sheehan, and Zachary Wilder were among the singers who took up the smaller roles with skill and grace."
Jeremy Eichler, Boston Globe
"...Laura Pudwell and Zachary Wilder gave full comic reign to Poppea's and Ottavia's nurses."
Heidi Waleson, Wallstreet Journal
Sondheim's A Little Night Music
"...and Egerman's zealously religious son Henrik, played with wonderfully comic adolescent and hypocritical angst by gifted tenor Zachary Wilder, is simultaneously attracted to and repelled by Anne's mocking playfulness."
Jan Nargi, Broadwayworld.com
Acis and Galatea—Festival D'Aix en Provence
"En Damon, l'Anglais Rupert Charlesworth déploie une sensualité, voire une lascivité vocale bienvenue en contrepoint du chant exquisément céleste du Coridon de Zachary Wilder"
Eric Dahan, Libération
Lully's Armide
"La bonne surprise vient de la distribution, qui apporte un soin particulier au sens du mot...et Zachary Wilder, originaire de Los Angeles, campe un Renaud exceptionnel."
Le Figaro
Acis and Galatea—La Fenice
"Ottimo Zachary Wilder, Coridon giustamente insinuante, il quale si disimpegna con grande classe anche nel coro dei pastori."
Alessandro Cammarano, Operaclick.com
Actéon and Pierre Philosophale CD
"Die hauchzarte, samtige Tenorstimme von Zachary Wilder ist eine perfekte Besetzung für den leichtfüßigen Luftgeist, dessen wenige Textzeilen er überdies mit bemerkenswerter Sensibilität und Detailverliebheit umsetzt."
Silvie Bier, Klassik.com