Falstaff – Union Avenue Opera

“And tenor Jesse Darden, again, fills his songs with utter sweetness.” – Broadway World

Fellow Travelers – Boston Lyric Opera

“Two finer men could not have been cast for the leading roles of the lovers, Hawk and “Skippy.” Baritone Jesse Blumberg, as the super-confident Hawk Fuller, and tenor Jesse Darden, as the vulnerable, complicated “Skippy” Laughlin, looked gorgeous and sang that way as well.” – Opera News

“Sung by convincingly naive and undeniably sweet tenor, Jesse Darden, the soliloquy is a high point of the production.” – Broadway World

“Jesse Darden’s Tim, vulnerable and passionate, embraced his awakening sense of self” – Bachtrack

“incredible vocal performance. Blumberg and Dardens’ voices blend together wonderfully” – Harvard Crimson

“played with tenderness and courage by the creamy-voiced tenor Jesse Darden” – The Theater Mirror

“Jesse Darden achieved something deeply moving as Tim Laughlin, bringing a thoughtful intelligence to bear on this introspective, often conflicted character. Darden makes full use of his broad range and clear, effortless tone in a wide-eyed ecstatic performance of his extended aria “Last Night”. But Darden’s art comes to bear as we see Tim realize his life with Hawk is an impossibility–Darden’s bright effervescence hardens and matures to become the staid, dejected Laughlin in the final scene of the opera, superbly controlled and chilling” – Boston Musical Intelligencer

“ Jesse Darden was ideally cast as Timothy, a young man from a strongly religious background seeking a government position, but finding his true sexuality after a chance encounter with Hawkins. Darden’s supple tenor negotiated with fluid ease the often challenging vocal lines. Occurring after his first sexual encounter with Hawk, his extended, Act 1, church scene proved a highlight of the evening. His acting was quite natural, and he created a thoroughly believable and sympathetic hero” – Edge Media Work

Candide – Union Avenue Opera

“The show is really Candide’s story, and Jesse Darden fills the role with a heartbreaking earnestness and innocence. His voice is lithe, easy and warm and is capable of such true sweetness that he surpasses any recorded Candide I’ve ever heard. His Candide is from the Realm of Ideal Forms.” – Broadway World

“Jesse Darden brought a clear, well-produced tenor and solid acting chops to the title role, his character managing to maintain his innocence until the very end, in a quietly authoritative performance.” – St. Louis Dispatch

“The tenor Darden as Candide captures the essence of his character as he transforms from an innocent, naïve youth to a more mature, wizened citizen of the world. In addition to the beauty of his voice, he convincingly conveyed his character’s essence through facial expressions and body language” – Limelight

“ Jesse Darden is a spectacular Candide, with a fine rich voice and energetic demeanor.” – KDHX

“Tenor Jesse Darden makes a prestigious UAO debut as the title character, shaping the naive young man’s thoughts and emotions with well-wrought singing.” – Laude News

The Rape of Lucretia – Boston Lyric Opera

“As the male chorus, Jesse Darden possessed a smooth, creamy tenor that delivered moments of uneasy calm in the face of the disquieting action onstage.” – Boston Classical Review

Schoenberg in Hollywood – Boston Lyric Opera

“Darden’s clear tenor brought youth and vigor to his roles.” – Opera News

“Darden’s warm, buttery tenor aptly suited the roles of both Alban Berg and Anton Webern, who lavished praise upon their teacher as the public seemed to show nothing but scorn for his music.” – Boston Classical Review