"At  the heart of this production  is Armando Contreras, whose portrayal of the title character was nothing short of a revelation. Contreras’s baritone voice proved ideally suited to the role, handling the intricate patter songs with enviable ease and clarity. His ability to navigate Cagnoni’s rapid vocal passages, all while maintaining impeccable Italian diction, was a testament to his technical skill.

Yet it was his comedic timing and charismatic stage presence that truly brought Don Bucefalo to life. Contreras saturated the character with a blend of arrogance and vulnerability, making him both laughable and endearing. His exaggerated facial expressions and animated physicality elicits frequent laughter, yet he never allows the comedy to undermine the sincerity of the role.

Contreras’s performance is a masterclass in balancing humor with vocal artistry, and he commands the stage with ease. Casting agents searching for the next Luca Pisaroni or Alessandro Corbelli (today’s leading opera buffa baritones) should head to YouTube to witness Armando Contreras’s masterful performance."