York Theatre Royal – 8 April 2017. Reviewed by Marcus Richardson
Tosca is an Italian opera written by Puccini and first performed in 1900. The tragedy focuses on an artist Cavaradossi (Alexander James Edwards) and his lover, a performer, Tosca (Laura Mitchell). Set in the late 18th century the opera has a beautiful charm and an aesthetic appeal. In the first act we are in a church with a statue of the Madonna with candles lighting her face up. Part of a double-bill that is touring across the UK by an appropriately named company ‘English Touring Opera’ their other show Patience was being performed the night before.
The Company came to York for the Friday and Saturday.
Now I must admit I preferred Tosca much more than Patience. With it being sung in Italian and its plot it had a much more dramatic flare. I found myself getting involved into the story as it has a strong conflict that could break up a love. As far as the singing went it was much stronger between the main actors who boasted their powerful voices and brought the romance and story to life.
Whilst the performance had English subtitles you could understand what was happening without since the physical aspects of their acting played such a major role in the performance. What the subtitles did do however was create the lighter moments in the script possible for an English audience, with Tosca wanting to change the eyes on a painting. The material was very good at making these comic moments in the tragedy to make their relationship much more believable and true. Mitchell who plays Tosca had the most stunning voice and every time she hit a powerful note it gave me goosebumps. And at the end – let’s just say that I cried.
Go and see this opera, I cannot stress how good this show is and how it will make you feel. It is the prime of what a good piece of theatre, let alone an opera, should be. The orchestra and cast are one of the best I’ve seen when it comes to coherence and fluidity as they worked together to create this amazing piece of art which I can label as perfection. Go and see this Opera!