Mending fences: Luc Bondy's Tosca at La Scala

By Courtney Smith, 24 June 2015

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“the Te Deum's gold-embroidered pageantry fogged under censer smoke”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 22 June 2015

Puccini, Tosca

Teatro alla Scala

Carlo Rizzi, Conductor

Luc Bondy, Director

Milena Canonero, Costume Designer

Béatrice Uria-Monzon, Floria Tosca

Fabio Sartori, Mario Cavaradossi

Željko Lučić, Baron Scarpia

Blagoj Nacoski, Spoletta

Ernesto Panariello, A Jailer

Alessandro Spina, Cesare Angelotti

Matteo Peirone, Sacristan

Frano Lufi, Sciarrone

Beatrice Fasano, Shepherd Boy

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Marie-Louise Bischofberger, Revival Director

Diamonds and steel: Anna Pirozzi rules in La Scala’s Turandot revival

Laura Servidei, 12th April

Visually enchanting and meticulously staged, this centenary revival confirms Livermore's production as a modern classic.

****1

The Ring returns to the Rhine: Götterdämmerung at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 1st February

Under Alexander Soddy’s powerful conducting and Sir David McVicar’s dark, evocative staging, the Ring finds a searing conclusion, anchored by a powerful Brünnhilde from Camilla Nylund, as the world burns.

*****

Shostakovitch’s Lady Macbeth conquers La Scala on opening night

Laura Servidei, 7th December

Shostakovich's brutal tale of sex, murder and madness storms La Scala's opening night, with Riccardo Chailly leading his final season premiere as Music Director.

****1

The game of love: Robert Carsen’s new Così fan tutte at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 8th November

Alexander Soddy leads a great cast in a clever, supremely entertaining new production in Milan.

****1

Pelly’s iconic Fille du régiment retains its charm at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 17th October

Julie Fuchs and Juan Diego Flórez give life to the refreshing and funny take of Laurent Pelly’s classic production, under the baton of Evelino Pidò.

****1

Martone's modern Rigoletto returns with power and flaws to La Scala

Laura Servidei, 10th October

A Rigoletto revival in Milan is elevated by a stellar vocal performance from Amartuvshin Enkhbat, despite a finale that divides opinion and some uneven orchestral pacing.

***11

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Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith is an American freelance journalist living in Milan, Italy. On classical music and opera, she's written for the BBC Music Magazine, Opera Now, Opera News, Corriere della Sera Style Magazine, Auditorium, Limelight and Classical Singer. She's written in-house for classical music organizations such as The New York Philharmonic and the Royal Opera House's blog. On luxury, fashion and beauty, she's written for The Wall Street Journal, Women's Wear Daily, Grazia.it and W Magazine's Editors' Blog. She's written in-house for brands such as Calvin Klein.