Founders Hall, Chelsea, London – Saturday 21st October 2022
Reviewed by Steph Lott
5*****
Last night I went to see Opera Loki’s production of Puccini’s Tosca at the Founders Hall, a bijou venue just off the King’s Road in Chelsea. I haven’t been to see an opera for an exceedingly long time and was excited at the prospect of going to see something different. I will say that although I love music, I am no expert when it comes to opera! This is very much an amateur review.
Opera Loki focusses on providing a platform for fledgling opera singers and it is a fabulous opportunity for the audience to see new talent very close up. The Founders Hall is a very intimate venue and the atmosphere cosy and familiar. Many in the audience were clearly loyal followers of Opera Loki and it was incredibly sad to hear that last night’s performance was to be Opera Loki’s last, as I understand that the founder, Peter, (my apologies I was unable to find out his last name) has decided to retire at long last.
At the centre of Puccini’s Tosca is a tense and ultimately tragic love triangle. The corrupt and villainous police chief Scarpia is in love with the singer Floria Tosca. If she agrees to let him have his way with her, Scarpia will halt the execution of her lover, the painter Cavaradossi.
The backdrop for the production was 1920’s Italy with a picture of Mussolini at the back of the stage. Tosca was played by Kirsty Taylor-Stokes and Cavaradossi by Phil Clieve. Their relationship was charming and so captivating that it made Scarpia’s evil plot (played by a fabulously devilish Geoff Clapham) even worse!
I could not believe the quality of the performance I attended, in terms of acting as well as their musical talents. Although it was a very small-scale production, I was truly blown away by the artistic capabilities of all involved. The talent on stage was second to none and it was wonderful to be so close that I could see all their expressions and little nuances. The piano accompaniment was provided by musical director Aleksandra Myslek and it was such a delight to see an opera performed at close quarters.
Kirsty Taylor-Stokes plays Tosca as a passionate vulnerable woman. Her beautiful soprano voice soars. Phil Clieves’ tenor voice is rich and velvety. Geoff Clapham plays Scarpia as an evil sadist, pawing Tosca obscenely as she sings “Vissi d’Arte”; his singing as well as his acting is hugely impressive. In the final scenes, it is tragic that both Cavaradossi and Tosca believe that they will escape together, not realising that the promised mock-execution is fraudulent and that Cavaradossi is really going to his death.
I am sad not to have discovered Opera Loki before. They have made an artistic form that is often viewed as “niche” very accessible. Opera Loki has provided new talent with the opportunity to perform much loved operatic favourites and I really hope that I get to see all of those performing in other productions very soon. I fear that their stellar performances may have given this amateur reviewer a new-found taste for opera