Christopher Maltman

Tom Huizenga
Washington Post
Monday, April 30, 2007; C08

Ten years ago, an unknown British baritone named Christopher Maltman launched his career by winning the Lieder Prize at the Cardiff Singer of the World competition in Wales.

Friday night at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, Maltman proved he's still worthy of the prestigious award, delivering songs by Claude Debussy, Hugo Wolf, Franz Schubert, Henri Duparc and Peter Warlock that radiated detail, drama and color... He's a natural singer with a fluid voice built of strong, brushed copper in the middle register, dark rounded oak in the low end, and a tenor's ping in his expansive high range. Instead of an acquired acting style, Maltman's appears to be inborn... Maltman's set of Debussy songs showed softness, restraint and the enormous talents of accompanying pianist Julius Drake, who was equally engaged all evening.