Reviews

Making an unexpected BBC Proms debut jumping in for an indisposed colleague, Daniel sang the role of Bottom for Garsington Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and live on BBC Radio 3 in September 2024.

Bottom, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

  • Daniel Vening won all hearts, and the loudest ovation of the night, as a lovable, and generously sung Bottom. Not only did he fit into the ensemble like a glove, Vening dominated proceedings from start to finish – the character was wonderfully etched, and he sang like a hero. Still an opera student at The Royal Academy of Music, this hugely gifted young singer clearly has a major career ahead of him. A star was well and truly born.

    — Seen and Heard International

  • It is testament to Vening’s performance that this was one of the finest of the night, with no hint of stand-in. Vening’s third act ‘When my cue comes, call me’ was a masterclass, Britten’s low sonorities adding mystery, the clarinets and flutes sinewy lines enhancing the atmosphere. A triumph.

    — Opera Today

  • Huge plaudits should also go to Daniel Vening, who stepped up at the last minute to take on the major role of Bottom. Vening was … able to perform off-book and to great aplomb - his Nick Bottom had just the right balance of pomposity and enthusiasm, making it clear why his fellow Mechanicals relied on his acting insights during the staging of their play. Vening’s efforts were loudly appreciated by the audience and the entire company, and justly so.

    — Broadway World

Reviews

In January 2025, Daniel performed Brahms Vier Ernste Gesänge, Op. 121 at Wigmore Hall for the Royal Academy Song Circle, with pianist Alison Ma.

RAM Song Circle, Wigmore Hall

  • Within seconds of the first singer starting I knew we were in for something special. Bass Daniel Vening, with Alison Ma, performed Brahms’s Four Serious Songs, dating from the year before the composer’s death, and prompted by the death of his close friend Clara Schumann. Not perhaps the most obvious choice for a young singer, but Vening’s rich and coloured voice was well suited to the songs, and there was no hint of callowness in his interpretation. And after the extraordinary rounded low notes of the opening bars of the first song, he gave full vent to his upper register in the second, followed by some wonderful cantabile in the gorgeous melody of number three. Vening’s magnificent singing was the highlight of the concert.

    — theartsdesk.com