Town Hall, New York City
"Once again, the highlight, hands down, of the evening was tenor John Easterlin who appeared in last summer's first "Operetta" concert for Siegel. His jaw dropping rendition of Dein is mein Ganzes Herz more than brought down the house - I think they're still rebuilding Town Hall from the rafter shaking end. A glorious full throated, warm, and luscious sound that I personally could listen to all night. Let's hope he returns next summer and for that matter, every summer to come to remind New Yorkers of what a truly great voice can be. He deserved all FIVE of his curtain calls - and then some!"
NEW YORK POST / Gregg Culling
Town Hall, New York City
"May I suggest we make John Easterlin's vocal chords the Eighth Wonder of the World? I mean, seriously, this man is gifted beyond words with a stunning, glorious one-of-a-kind instrument. I was enraptured with his voice a year ago at Town Hall and just about lost consciousness this year when the brought the audience to a six minute standing ovation in his rendition of Lehar's Dein ist mein Ganzes Herz. An absolutely perfect performance which leaves me in tears once again just writing this review. What a privilege to hear this world class artist fill every centimeter of New York's famed Town Hall - Bravo Mr. Easterlin, bravo!"
USA TODAY / Robert Bianco
Town Hall, New York City
"For a second year in a row, Metropolitan Opera tenor John Easterlin was the clear audience favorite. His rich, thrilling tenor shook the rafter of Town Hall, first with hist just down right amazing and heart stopping performance of Dein ist mein Ganzes Herz, sung in German, and then a return for Hill of Dreams from Song of Norway. There comes a point when superlatives and praise fail to do justice to the glorious voice this man possesses and lets it wash over every audience member. Thrilling, just thrillling."
VARIETY / William Sparks
Town Hall, New York City
"Last year I had the privilege to hear tenor John Easterlin for the first time in Siegel's Night at the Operetta - and thank goodness he came again. To say that Easterlin once again walked away with the evening is an understatement. He is in such a refined, elevated league that it's really almost unfair to judge the other singers about an artist on the international level of Mr. Easterlin. His German rendition of Lehar's Dein ist mein Ganzes Herz will be remembered by every audience member - and certainly this critic - for years and years to come. I said he was a 'prince' last year - well this year he took the crown as 'king'."
NY1 / Roma Torre
Town Hall, New York City
"Metropolitan Opera tenor John Easterlin who works as a character tenor showed nothing short of star quality with his rendition of Dein ist mein Ganzes Herz from Franz Lehar's "The Land of Smiles" done auf Deutsch in a nod to the European operetta tradition. As a critic, I'm supposed to keep a fair, even tone but Easterlin has made me a true bona fide fan. While my knowledge of opera is slight, he can be assured I'll be watching him at the Met and also in his upcoming Carnegie Hall debut."
THEATER WORLD / Michael Dale
Reviews as Soloist in A NIGHT AT THE OPERETTA AT TOWN HALL
Town Hall, New York City
"If one performer rose to the top that night – and one clearly did – it had to be opera tenor John Easterlin. He closed the Act I with Serenade from The Student Prince, off the mike, eliciting the song's heart with simple sincerity, beginning gently and building as the song's emotion intensified. It was a thrilling rendition. Easterlin returned later to join Christianne Noll in closing the show with 'Deep in My Heart, Dear', also from The Student Prince. To Easterlin's credit, he did not overwhelm Noll, who sang beautifully but does not share Easterlin's perch of excellence. The audience justly rewarded Mr. Easterlin with a standing ovation."
CABARET SCENES / Elizabeth Ahlfors
Town Hall, New York City
"The supreme tenor of John Easterlin (from the Metropolitan Opera), closed the first half with a perfectly beautiful 'Serenade' from The Student Prince that left the hushed audience enthralled with his every note and phrase. He returned to close the evening with a spine tingling rendition of 'Deep in My Heart, Dear" that brought the audience to their feet."
NEW YORK POST / Gregg Culling
Town Hall, New York City
"Like cream rising to the top, the evening's star rested in the stunning, thrilling voice of Metropolitan Opera tenor John Easterlin. Singing without a mike, he started gently, tenderly – and the audience gave him the courtesy of silence as he shaped each word and phrase. Never before has this critic seen or heard an audience so still and attentive to a performer. He closed both acts with two of operetta's most beloved arias, both from The Student Prince. As everyone around, I was reduced to tears listening to his sterling, world class performance."
USA TODAY / Robert Bianco
Town Hall, New York City
"John Easterlin, who sings regularly at the Metropolitan Opera, emerged as the clear and justifiable audience favorite. His rich, thrilling tenor permeated every inch of Town Hall, first with a sterling 'Serenade' from The Student Prince and at the show's end, 'Deep in My Heart, Dear' from the same work. From his heart felt, tender beginning to the glorious, powerful – and unamplified – ending of both pieces, he proved why this art form is still alive and well in his golden vocal chords."
VARIETY / William Sparks
Town Hall, New York City
"Sarah Jane McMahon was clearly operetta's queen for the evening. And every Queen deserves her King or in this case a King. John Easterlin delivered not one but two selections from Romberg's The Student Prince that left the packed Town Hall in tears and cheers. His rich, thrilling tenor filled every inch of the theater. And what a pleasure to hear such a glorious voice unamplified. A special bravo, indeed, to Mr. Easterlin in his Town Hall debut."
NY1 / Roma Torre
Town Hall, New York City
"Opera star John Easterlin stopped the show not once, but twice, mining two classics from The Student Prince to a perfect diamond. First, he won over the audience at the end of the first half with a goose bump-inducing 'Serenade' and at the show's conclusion, 'Deep in My Heart, Dear'. It was pure magic."
WOLF ENTERTAINMENT / David Wolf
Town Hall, New York City
"Metropolitan Opera tenor John Easterlin ended the first half by commanding downstage center in a formal white dinner jacket for his perfectly rapturous rendering of The Student Prince's 'Serenade'. He combined a gorgeous vocal sophistication, a sparkling stage presence, and an intelligent sense of lyric phrasing in his return to the stage at the show's end for 'Deep in My Heart, Dear'. Perfection in every way."
THEATER WORLD / Michael Dale