Past Production Reviews
2Davide Amadei's scenic design consists of an inclined floor placed diagonally, a wooden parquet cut vertically in half to act as a curtain that, when raised, reveals an environment surrounded by walls in the pattern of an overwhelming wooden coffered ceiling. Costumes are evening dresses for the female characters while Orpheus is barefoot in a white suit and Apollo in a gilded outfit. Even more bizarre are those worn by Charon and Pluto. In Pizzech's direction the entrance of both Music and the Messenger are flatly realized while Charon's boat goes back and forth just a few feet to carry wild souls which, with their rumpus, divert the attention from Orpheus trying to sweeten Hades' ferryman. A full range of expressive modes is highlighted through a colourful, rich palette, both instrumentally and vocally. This makes Monteverdi's work a masterpiece still wholly enjoyable today.
The production, directed by Mario Pontiggia with sets and costumes by Francesco Zito, originated at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo. It is a stunningly beautiful, richly detailed re-creation of the three locations in Rome where the tragedy unfolds. The dresses of the heavily veiled women who crowded the church and Tosca’s second act gown and sparkling jewels, complete with tiara, were the most sumptuous of the costumes. When Tosca’s shadow suddenly appeared on the wall as she placed candles and a crucifix over Scarpia’s body, the man sitting next to me shuddered. It is of such details that memorable operatic performances are made. I have heard Marcello Álvarez many times, but never experienced him performing with such carefree abandon. Sleeker these days, he emanated a youthful energy but, more importantly, he made the audience see Tosca through his eyes: passionate, jealous and alluring. His Cavaradossi was vocally and dramatically impetuous and daring; as to the former, he may be throwing caution to the wind, but the result is thrilling. Ambrogio Maestri’s Scarpia can only be described as massive in temperament, voice and person, yet there was a delicacy to his performance. His Scarpia was a connoisseur of cruelty and capable of expressing it in the most subtle of manners, unless more drastic measures were needed. Oren had missed the first four performances of the run due to health reasons, but he was in fine form for these two. His verismo is the stuff of raw meat being thrown to the lions at one end of the spectrum and champagne at the other. His broadest musical brush strokes, as well as his most sensitive shadings, came from the orchestra and chorus, who responded brilliantly to the frantic beating of his baton and grunts and shouts that could be heard throughout the house. All of Rome may have trembled before Scarpia, but Oren can make the earth move.
