Sounds of Castrati, City Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong:
"Wong was able to show off his expertise in baroque stylistic performance. The recital selections were delivered with conviction, and the arias showed off both the dramatic and lyrical qualities of his voice."
South China Morning Post- December 12, 1999
Amilcare in Hasse's Attillo Regolo, Semper Oper, Dresden:
"There is even a male soprano, Randall Wong, who reaches the highest heights of womens' roles. He takes the role of the Carthaginian Amilcare. As always, wonderful and fascinating!"
Sächisische Zeitung-May 24-25, 1997
Meredith Monk's The Politics or Quiet
"... a virtuoso male soprano who tosses off high B's and C's with the skill of a grand prima donna - executes fiendishly difficult vocal pranks with ease."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - June 10, 1996
"The section's prayer closed with the hauntingly beautiful high voice of soprano Randall Wong."
Lincoln Journal Star - September 28, 1996
"It thrills her to see Randall Wong, the astonishing male soprano, dancing his heart out in a lusty circling folk celebration."
Village Voice - October 15, 1996
"The audience responded to the sparkling high soprano voice which came from the gentle Randall Wong."
Politiken, Copenhagen - July 19, 1996
Soloist in Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, San Francisco Symphony, Tilson Thomas:
"Randall Wong sang the second movement's treble solo in sweet, pure tones."
San Francisco Chronicle - February 10, 1995
"Male soprano (and baroque opera singer) Randall Wong did beautifully."
San Jose Mercury News - February 10, 1995
Henry Wong in Wallace's Harvey Milk, New York City Opera:
One of the opera's most impressive musical scenes occurs as Randall Wong's soaring male soprano delivers a hauntingly beautiful solo lament against NYCO chorus singing the Kaddish. Making his NYCO debut, Randall Wong was a distinguished member of Chanticleer for several seasons before he left to pursue a solo career. Capable of beautiful high notes of crystalline purity, a voice such as Wong's is by necessity associated with baroque and early music. But given in recent years a mainstream revival of interest in these high male voices, Wong is actually able these days to perform a much greater variety of repertoire."
Bay Times - April 20, 1995
Henry Wong and Joe in Wallace's Harvey Milk, Houston Grand Opera:
"As activist Henry Wong, countertenor Randall Wong sang a sad, soaring solo in the candlelight march with heavenly sweetness and heartbreaking poignancy."
Opera News - May 1995
"Randall Wong's male soprano sound is still as brilliant in the role of Milk activist-lover Henry Wong as it was in Handel repertory ten years ago."
Village Voice - April 4, 1995
"... the male soprano Randall Wong, superb in a solo of mourning at the end."
Opera - April 1995
"Outstanding performances came from the extraordinary 'male soprano' Randall Wong as the representative of the Asian American community."
Opera Now - May 1995
"But the vocal prize of the evening goes to the male soprano Randall Wong as Henry Wong."
Opern Welt - April 1995
"The solo by male soprano Randall Wong near the work's end was a touch of musical heaven."
Houston Chronicle - January 22, 1995
"Male soprano Randall Wong was a real "Angel in America'"
Welt der Kultur - January 25, 1995
"Sak's bass is an awe-inspiring phenomenon, as is Randall Wong's unique and uncannily powerful soprano."
Washington Blade - January 27, 1995
Hasse's Artemisia, Semperoper, Dresden, Frieder Bernius, conductor: "Soprano Randall Wong was fascinating as Sebaste's son Idaspe with flawless coloratura and delicate tone."
Concerto No. 95 - July/August 1994
Vologeso in Jomelli's Il Vologeso, Internationale Festtage Alter Musik, Stuttgart:
"Randall Wong with his crystal-clear high soprano provided the vocal highpoints."
Heilbronner Stimme - May 4, 1993
"Frieder Bernius brought the best of each fach to to Stuttgart: the singular soprano
Randall Wong in the castrato role of Vologeso."
Esslingen Zeitung - May 4, 1993
Recital, University of Maryland, College Park:
"The most remarkable part of the evening was the singing of soprano Randall Wong. Wong has extended his range down to baritone territory, but managed to preserve a pure, limpid upper register. 'Abendempfindung' works only if the singer can make the audience share its special emotional warmth. Wong made it work. Wong's singing is what stays longest in memory."
Washington Post - December 2, 1991
Lonely Spirit and Ice Demon in Meredith Monk's ATLAS, (Houston, Minneapolis,
Columbus OH, Philadelphia, New York, Berlin, Paris, London, etc.):
"The discipline of the singers was extremely impressive, in particular that of the male soprano Randall Wong - I would love to hear him in Handel."
The Times (London) - November 2, 1992
"The sound is the thing, delivered by some diverse and handsome voices ranging from a Chinese opera specialist to a spectacular male soprano with early music credentials."
New Note (London) - November 2, 1992
"The versatile cast executed some deft multiple role switching, and Randall Wong made an indelible impression -as the sinister honcho of the ice demons and as a monkish Lonely Spirit - with a voice of unearthly soprano extension."
International Herald Tribune - July 27, 1991
"In a cast of true equals, standouts included Randall Wong as a Lonely Spirit."
New York Times - June 10, 1991
"One by one, the five [travelers] are tempted by supernatural forces... a lonely spirit (harrowingly keened by male soprano Randall Wong) that traps passersby in its own isolation...
Village Voice - June 18, 1991
"Monk has assembled some of the finest and boldest young performers, including male soprano Randall Wong."
New York Newsday - June 10, 1991
"The Lonely Spirit, bewitchingly sung by countertenor Randall Wong, had a touching scene... Wong was perfect, especially for his spooky scenes."
St. Paul Pioneer Press - March 7, 1991
"...the fantastic soprano, Randall Wong." Süddeutsche Zeitung - March 4, 1991
"Images from a child's book, poignant in their simplicity and sustained by entirely
remarkable voices, such as that of soprano Randall Wong."
Art Press (Paris) - July/August 1991
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Z Space Theater, San Francisco
“Randall Wong warbles a beguiling, ethereal melody as the albatross, one that suggests the bird’s end, its sadness, its defiance, its retribution...”
San Francisco Chronicle, September 21, 2019
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SELECTED RECORDING REVIEWS
Vivaldi Solo Cantatas, Helicon Records:
"Wong is both a superstar vocalist and a Baroque scholar. His voice is gloriously pure, flawless in intonation and rhythmic accuracy. There's a sense of thrill in Wong's throat that's at least as fine as Cecilia Bartoli's or Luciano Pavarotti's. The disc should prove essential to all Baroque fans. Highly recommended"
In Tune - January/February 1998
"The quality of Wong's voice is attractive, strong and evenly produced. There are thrillingly produced notes of a quality no female soprano could emulate- a hint perhaps of the exciting virility and projection that was achieved by the castrato voice. Wong is a good stylist too, singing ornaments and passage work with considerable accuracy and agility. The best overall work comes with RV 660, a delightful work sung with great charm."
Fanfare- March/April 1998
"Randall Wong is recognized internationally as one of the pioneering artists in the contemporary revival of the high-flying Baroque repertoire for castrato singers. Once again he does a superb job in illuminating these works."
Bay Times- December 11, 1997
Hasse, Cleofide, Capella Coloniensis, William Christie, conductor: Capriccio Records:
"Randall Wong and Derek Lee Ragin's singing of the two principal castrato roles is also first rate (check out disc 2, track 7, for coloratura fireworks from Mr. Wong that approach those of Beverly Sills on her two-decades-old recording of Handel's "Giulio Cesare" - and Mr. Wong, you have to keep reminding yourself, is a man)."
New York Times - June 19, 1988
"Randall Wong shows an astonishingly high soprano, which he uses with reasonable assurance in the quite florid music for Porus's friend Gandartes."
Gramophone - February 1988
"A male soprano named Randall Wong finds high C# as easy as did Mado Robin, but with a nicer tone and more natural agility to the voice."
Fanfare - December 1988
"Randall Wong's specialty as Gandarte is his spectacular ease with high notes."
Opera News - February 27, 1988
"Randall Wong bills himself as a soprano, and is positively unearthly in sound. In fact, I've never heard a male singer who sounds so much like a woman... This is "androgynous chic" with a vengeance."
Digital Audio - May 1988
Press Snippets