St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Verdi Requiem
"All this talk of the soloists should not take anything away from the heroic work of the SLSO Chorus. Verdi gave them their fair share of the spotlight—some of it extremely challenging.
The massive eight-part fugue of double chorus in the “Sanctus” comes immediately to mind in this regard. This was sung with impressive lucidity and in perfect dynamic balance with the orchestra, where little details like the passages for flutes and piccolo were clearly delineated. Overall, the chorus was as fine as I have ever heard it. Congratulations to the singers and to guest chorus director Benjamin Rivera."
Chuck Lavazzikdhx.org
Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia: Beethoven 9 and Esmail's "See Me"
"...this “Ode’s” most compelling asset, especially under the stewardship of an incandescent Chicago Symphony Chorus"
Hannah EdgarChicago Tribune
Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Orff's Carmina Burana
"the chorus...[sang] with great diction and precision...with considerable enthusiasm and gusto"
Rob Nylund89.1 WBOI
Florentine Opera: Gounod's Roméo et Juliette
"The chorus sounded at their best."
Rick WaltersShepherd Express
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
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
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
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
Florentine Opera: Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges and Viardot's Cendrillon
"Excellent, consistent singing throughout the cast"
Rick WaltersShepherd Express
Florentine Opera: Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges and Viardot's Cendrillon
"strong cast of fine singers"
Elaine SchmidtMilwaukee Journal Sentinel
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
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
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
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
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
Florentine Opera: Mozart's Nozze di Figaro
"The Florentine Opera Chorus adds musical and comic depth to the production."
Elaine SchmidtMilwaukee Journel Sentinel
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
William Ferris Chorale: Music of Gabriel Jackson, James MacMillan and Owain Park
"the 24 singers sounded in wonderful shape in this intensely challenging music under guest conductor Rivera. The sopranos were astonishing, tackling the stratospheric passages of Jackson’s score with faultless intonation and refined tone throughout."
"Rivera directed a cohesive, seamlessly balanced and expressive performance."
"strikingly beautiful music sung with remarkable finish and purity by the Ferris sopranos"
"sensitively sung by the Ferris Chorale under Rivera’s direction"
Lawrence A. JohnsonChicago Classical Review
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
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."