Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Orff's Carmina Burana

"the chorus...[sang] with great diction and precision...with considerable enthusiasm and gusto"

Rob Nylund89.1 WBOI
31 October 2022

Florentine Opera: Gounod's Roméo et Juliette

"The chorus sounded at their best."

Rick WaltersShepherd Express
26 October 2022

Florentine Opera: Gounod's Roméo et Juliette

"The production's fine singing and theatrical depth extend through the rest of the cast and the chorus, as well."

"The 24-member chorus is a character itself. The singers deliver vocal power, musical depth, and the ensemble cohesion of a much smaller group, contributing significantly to the production's dramatic strength."

Elaine SchmidtMilwaukee Journal Sentinel
13 October 2022

Bach's Easter Oratorio and Komm, Jesu, komm with Dame Jane Glover

"The Music of the Baroque concert Monday at Chicago's Harris Theater, with Johann Sebastian Bach's Easter Oratorio as its featured piece, was excellent…the chorus guest directed by Benjamin Rivera…excelled on Bach's Komm, Jesu, Komm, accompanied only by viola, cello, harpsichord, bassoon and the ensemble's now ever-present theorbo, and in the Preis und Dank (Praise and Thanks) final movement of Easter Oratorio."

Bob BenensonThird Coast Review
14 April 2022

Bach's Easter Oratorio and Komm, Jesu, komm with Dame Jane Glover

"Prepared by Benjamin Rivera, the MOB [Music of the Baroque] chorus brought polished corporate tone, flexibility and well blended vocalism, exhilaratingly so in the spiritual joy of the final chorus...they sang with polish and clarity."

Lawrence A. JohnsonChicago Classical Review
12 April 2022

Bach's Easter Oratorio and Komm, Jesu, komm with Dame Jane Glover

"during Bach’s Komm, Jesu, komm... the MOB [Music of the Baroque] choir came to the fore. A shoutout should be made to Benjamin Rivera, who serves as the chorus director."

Julia W. RathAround the Town Chicago
11 April 2022

Florentine Opera: Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges and Viardot's Cendrillon

"Excellent, consistent singing throughout the cast"

 

Rick WaltersShepherd Express
14 March 2022

Florentine Opera: Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges and Viardot's Cendrillon

"strong cast of fine singers"

 

Elaine SchmidtMilwaukee Journal Sentinel
14 March 2022

Music of the Baroque: Handel's Messiah with Nicholas Kraemer

"attendees expecting a masterly performance of Handel’s Messiah oratorio at the Harris Theater Monday were not disappointed"

Bob BenensonThird Coast Review
02 December 2021

Music of the Baroque: Handel's Messiah with Nicholas Kraemer

"Guest chorus director Benjamin Rivera worked closely with the chorale singers and brought out the best in the prose. What was particularly interesting to see was how well the choir sang with their masks on at all times...magnificent performance.”

Julia W. RathAround the Town Chicago
30 November 2021

Music of the Baroque: Handel's Messiah with Nicholas Kraemer

"As prepared by guest chorus director Benjamin Rivera, the ensemble singing was technically assured, nimble in fast passages."

Lawrence A. JohnsonChicago Classical Review
29 November 2021

Florentine Opera: Verdi's Rigoletto

"The male members of the Florentine Chorus are a full and needed force to create the caverns of chorale sound essential to the story (musically stunning)."

Dominique Paul NothUrban Milwaukee
11 October 2021

Florentine Opera: Verdi's Rigoletto

"The men of the Florentine Opera Chorus deserve a heartfelt nod for tight, refined, ensemble singing, and for their animated presence in the production."

Elaine SchmidtMilwaukee Journal Sentinel
09 October 2021

Florentine Opera: Mozart's Nozze di Figaro

"The Florentine Opera Chorus adds musical and comic depth to the production."

 

Elaine SchmidtMilwaukee Journel Sentinel
12 October 2019

Chicago Symphony: Harry Potter 3

"This was a transcendent effort, capturing first the minds and then the hearts of the audience, and carrying along the fine actors and actresses as they encounter tribulations and success. We were swept by the virtuosity of Orchestra, singers, and Conductor/Chorus Director into a universe that ranged from subdued motifs and angelic breathy vocalizations through symbolic menacing vibes."

Debra Davy
01 July 2019

Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus: Orff's Carmina Burana with Carlos Kalmar

"plaudits to guest chorus director Benjamin Rivera...a vivid season finale"

Howard ReichChicago Tribune
18 August 2018

Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus: Orff's Carmina Burana with Carlos Kalmar

"a performance of surging vitality and tremendous verve"


"The Grant Park singers handled some breakneck tempos with striking virtuosity and put across the big climaxes with sonic punch and intensity."

Lawrence A. JohnsonChicago Classical Review
18 August 2018