Tosca at ROH: promise as yet unfulfilled

By David Karlin, 16 January 2018

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“Over the years, the Royal Opera has proved adept at following the recipe”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 15 January 2018

Puccini, Tosca

The Royal Opera

Dan Ettinger, Conductor

Jonathan Kent, Director

Paul Brown, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Adrianne Pieczonka, Floria Tosca

Joseph Calleja, Mario Cavaradossi

Gerald Finley, Baron Scarpia

Simon Shibambu, Cesare Angelotti

Aled Hall, Spoletta

Jihoon Kim, Sciarrone

Jeremy White, Sacristan

Royal Opera Chorus

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

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A revelatory orchestral performance and a cast led by Andreas Schager, Christopher Maltman and Elisabeth Strid make this a Siegfried for the record books.

*****

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****1

Ermonela Jaho returns in triumph to The Royal Opera’s Traviata

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*****

Turandot drowned in an orchestral tsunami at The Royal Opera

David Karlin, 15th December

Andrei Șerban’s 40 year old take on Puccini's tale of the ice princess largely stands the test of time, but Netrebko and Eyvazov are short of their best form.

***11

Handel’s Ariodante returns home to Covent Garden

Roy Westbrook, 9th December

Jetske Mijnssen’s house debut sees Handel’s opera transposed to a modern-day palace, with Emily D'Angelo angelic in the title role.

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The Royal Opera stages its first Makropulos Case

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Katie Mitchell wheels out her tired old tropes in The Makropulos Case, redeemed by its musical performances.

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David Karlin

David is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.

Tosca at Covent Garden with Calleja, Finley and Pieczonka: promise as yet unfulfilled