Whistle Down the Wind

Eric toured to rave reviews for his performances with "Whistle Down the Wind", with stops in Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia and Norfolk, VA.

Eric's Reviews from "Whistle"

From Broad Street Review - Philadelphia
"Eric Kunze is a marvelous Broadway leading man with thrilling big notes and, even more impressively, beautiful soft notes that float effortlessly and sometimes swell excitingly from piano to full volume while maintaining the original pitch and timbre–what opera singers call messa di voce."

(ed. note)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messa_di_voce

From Maggie Flecknoe – KTRH NewsRadio 740 – Houston
Eric Kunze (The Man/Convict) is probably the most talented actor I have seen take to the stage. He has such a strong presence. And his vocal range is amazing. Andrew Lloyd Weber could not have found a more fitting actor to give his musical the justice it deserves.

From the Detroit News:
As the mysterious Man, Eric Kunze is a studly Christ figure with a strong presence and terrific voice.

From Theatermania (Sandy McDonald):
As the convict-escapee, all Kunze needs in the way of costuming is a ripped tee baring burnished biceps. And when he nails his anguished high notes, you get some sense of what all the fuss about Enrico Caruso was about. Yes, he's that good.

(ed. note)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Caruso

From Variety:
Kunze is rightly charismatic, and God knows he has a Bible Belt of a voice well suited to the character's big ballads.

From Seattlest:
The two leads, Eric Kunze and Andrea Ross, are spectacular singers.

From the Patriot Ledger (Boston):
It’s blessed by one world-class performance, that of Eric Kunze, identified in the program as The Man. Kunze is a matinee idol in the old-fashioned mold: tall, dark and handsome with a voice that is breathtaking in its lovely high tenor range, enhanced by a go-for-broke emotive style.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
The real redemption comes from the show's star, Eric Kunze, whose beautiful tenor, shifting effortlessly into that signature Webber falsetto, is consistently fine.

Reviews from "Jesus Christ Superstar"

From Variety, 2003:
"When the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera made its groundbreaking transition from monster album to Broadway musical in 1971, Ben Vereen stole the show as Judas. In the majority of subsequent productions, Jesus has been routinely overshadowed by his betrayer. So the big news at the Wilshire is Christ's restoration from second banana to superstar, thanks to the outstanding voice and imposing presence of Eric Kunze in the title role."

From Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group, 2004:

The principals for this tour are outstanding: Lawrence Clayton as an R&B hot-throb Judas singing a mocking version of "Superstar"; Eric Kunze as pure rocker Jesus; and Natalie Toro, who was in the earlier production, as the beautiful and touching Mary Magdalene, who confesses "I Don't Know How to Love Him." With their gorgeous performances, these players drew us deeply into the show instead of causing us to wince.

"The goal of actor Eric Kunze, in the title role, is to humanize Jesus. Kunze succeeds by offering us a Christ who begins with dignity and calmness but loses more and more control of his life as the musical progresses.

Kunze's singing is wonderfully magnetic. He makes going from a rock scream to a whisper sound easy. His physical acting also amply portrays his character's suffering."

"Kunze has a gorgeously effective range, one that easily moves from a tender tenor to booming baritone. His solo on Gethsemane is heart-breakingly beautiful, and his strength and subtlety as a singing actor (vs. a thundering rocker) make the crucifixion scene discomfitingly vivid."

From Classical Voice of North Carolina:
"Rising Broadway star Eric Kunze gives a passionate performance as Jesus, capturing Christ’s charisma and hitting all the high notes—some of which seem impossibly high."

Eric's Photos