York Theatre Royal – Saturday 1 March 2025
Reviewed by Sal Marino
5*****
Eloise Lally’s direction of the English Touring Opera’s production, Bellini’s ‘The Capulets and The Montagues’, is a unique and innovative performance due to its less traditional and more relatable narrative landscape of mid-20th-century New York. Here, Lally takes us right to the heart of the underbelly of those famous mafia families we all became intrigued by through the work of Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola in the 70s and 80s (think Mean Streets and Goodfellas). Anyone who considers themselves as, “not a fan of opera” or even Shakespeare will have their perceptions challenged and I guarantee that you will be very pleasantly surprised! It would be very hard not to become intoxicated by this piece as the rich story that is weaved from within the Capulet family business (a well-kept bar where boxes of oranges and lemons conceal dirty money) intimately draws you in from the off as you become the observer of the everyday comings and goings of this notorious family and tragic star-crossed lovers, Romeo (Samantha Price) and Giulietta (Jessica Cale).
By transporting us into the dark worlds of film directors Scorsese and Coppola, Lally cleverly fuses opera with mafia film iconography. The other inspiration behind this spellbinding performance are the photographs taken by Letizia Battaglia who bravely reported on a famous trial where 200 hundred mob members were convicted. Within the opera the cinematic influences are exciting and complex dramatic freeze-frames and intense confrontations followed by mass gunfights. This creates an ambiance of the drama which at points, one forgets that they are at an opera – you get so caught up in the exhilarating experience of the action! The acting alongside the exceptional vocal performances is first-class! A standout performance for his portrayal as Lorenzo (Masimba Ushe), Giulietta’s (long suffering confidante but also her father’s (Capellio, Timothy Nelson) longest serving mob member really captures the essence of man who is in the middle of a huge dilemma. Lorenzo is split between two loyalties – he loves them both but knows that he will eventually have to pay the price for his betrayal. It’s mafia law that must be abided whether your intentions are good or not. Without giving too much away, the compelling alternative ending speaks to a new generation and questions the inner conflict of a future for ones self or that of tradition?
Under conductor Alphonse Cemin, ETO’s carefully sculptured solos and choruses give attention to more dramatic scores when needed and crucially give input during highly emotional moments. The harp was exquisite when Giulietta was contemplating her fate after the announcement of her forthcoming marriage to Tebaldo (brilliantly played by Brenton Spiteri). The vocal performances are outstanding on every level from the male mafia members to the sincere Lorenzo and powerfully charged but beautifully controlled voices of Cale and Price. The intimate moments between these two has tenderness alongside outbursts of huge passion that is alarming in all the right places.
This opera has everything for fans of so many genres: Shakespeare, Bellini, opera, gangster films, high-drama narrative, action, love and so much more. Don’t let the word ‘opera’ put you off because this performance crosses the boundaries of many different works and whatever your preferences if you love a good story – you’ll love this