Review

Will Todd's Te Deum with Vivace Chorus at Guildford Cathedral
'Elsewhere, soprano Bethany Halliday and saxophonist Paul Fawcus impressed with gripping solo turns." Stephen Goss/ Surrey Advertiser/ 2009

Todd's Requiem with Fairhaven Singers at St John's Smith Square, London
"Will Todd's most impressive, well-structured, 'agonized-over' work to date...emotive high points from gospel singer Bethany Halliday...a stunningly adaptable soprano....well worth many more performances from ambitious, enterprising choirs." Jill Barlow/ Tempo/ 2009

Premiere of Todd's Requiem St John's College, Cambridge.
"The solo work by Bethany Halliday was dazzling. She put me in mind of the first times I heard Beverly Sills and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf -- the clean sound and also the connection to the audience." Mel Cooper, Artistic Director of the Genesis Foundation / 2009

Mass in Blue, with Kingfisher Chorale, Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester
"A vibrant and stylish Mass in Blue... Bethany Halliday's rendition of the soprano solos was superb....The rapturous soprano solos were brilliantly realised by Bethany Halliday" XNeil Crutchley, Leicester Mercury, 4th March 2008

Carmina Burana and Mass in Blue with Britten Pears Chamber Choir Snape Maltings Concert Hall
'The most astonishing performance of the evening came from Bethany Halliday, a fine conventional singer with many operatic roles to her credit, but who crosses over into the jazz idiom with remarkable conviction as a kind of latter-day Cleo Lane' Peter Dickinson, The Aldeburgh Gazette, 22nd February 2008

Mass in Blue - recording on Signum Classics
'...Soprano Bethany Halliday is a remarkably versatile musician, lending her operatic full tone to this more laidback and loose idiom in her entries over the choir...
'...There's an irresistible gospel approach to the Credo, which is led with panache by Halliday...
'...Halliday once more helps lead the way, her vocals showing great flexibility of range...'MusicOMH.com, September 2006 - Read entire review

'The Mass is a substantial piece in which Ms Halliday... turns her Lamborghini of a voice loose on the music. She croons, sways and erupts, encompassing the range from metropolitan cool, foot-tapping Ella to the pyroclastic flow and blast of Mahalia Jackson (an early influence). She is heard at full tilt in the pyrotechnics of Credo. Things cool and return closer to classical comfort - say Poulenc - in the Sanctus. Even so it is mesmerisingly tugged by Todd's smoochily relaxed piano and smilingly discreet riffs of the band and drumkit. After a steady then sprinting Benedictus comes the final Agnus Dei which opens, as does the whole work, with Todd's bluesy solo piano. Halliday anoints the celebration with a meditative bluesy melisma that accelerates into the final three minutes. The Credo returns and the blue touch paper is lit for a ferment of jazz pyrotechnics.' Rob Barnett, Classical Music Web International, October 2006

' Todd is well served by the brass, reed and rhythm ensemble that joins the Vasari Singers for the Mass, and soprano Bethany Halliday solos with conviction.' Barry Witherden, The Gramophone, September 2006

'Wow, I know, leaves you speechless doesn't it! Follow that!
' Jamming away there were the Vasari Singers, with Soprano Bethany Halliday, fabulous voice, in the final movement, the agnus dei, from Will Todd's Mass in Blue.'  Aled Jones, The Choir, BBC Radio 3, 10th September 2006

'The Gloria has a simple plainchant opening before the voice of the soprano soloist floats apparently effortlessly above the ensemble.' Serena Fenwick, musicalpointers.co.uk September 2006

'The Mass also uses a soloist, soprano Bethany Halliday, whose creamy voice shines especially in the Agnus Dei, and she more than holds her own in her improvisatory expertise.' Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide, December 2006

'...The choir rose to the occasion with a terrific performance, vigorously conduced by Justin Doyle, while soprano Bethany Halliday, normally an operatic singer, was superb both in her solo pieces and whilst her voice soared above the choir in soulful passages. She also looked fabulous, in an astonishing creation from purveyors of "special maternity clothes for special occasions" by the name of doesmytumlookbiginthis.com!' - Bucks Herald, November 16th 2005

Verdi's Requiem, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
'...the four soloists-soprano Bethany Halliday, alto Valerie Reid, tenor David Barrell and bass baritone Graeme Danby-added some moments of real quality...' - The Herald, 2 November 2004

Mass in Blue, Hertfordshire Chorus
'His vocalist is the delightful soprano Bethany Halliday, who sings regularly with ENO and other opera companies but has maintained a love of jazz and gospel music... She has the perfect voice for this piece: bright, sure and very flexible....' - MusicOMH.com, April 2004

`The Pearl Fishers', Surrey Opera
`Bethany Halliday who performed the role of Leila looked lovely enough to have sparked the rival affections of old friends Nadir and Zurga, and had a voice to match. She soared through her solos, and when defying Zurga and begging for Nadir's life she conveyed very beautifully the pride and tenderness of a woman in love, with the desperation of one prepared to set her own life at nothing if it would only save that of her lover.' - East Grinstead Courier Oct 2002

Faure Requiem and McAlpine `Prince of Peace', Derby Choral Union
`The soprano Bethany Halliday has a beautiful voice and delighted the audience with her performance.' - Derby Evening Telegraph March 2002

`Acis and Galatea', Berkhamstead Choral Union
`...a sparkling-voiced Bethany Halliday' - Bucks Examiner March 2001

`Masked Ball', Opera Omnibus
`The soprano Bethany Halliday showed promise as the perky page and sang Oscar's music with spirit and some neat coloratura.' - Opera Magazine May 2000