Tosca reviews
The Telegraph ★★★★
Tosca: Puccini’s drama is grippingly moved to the era of the Third Reich
“Rome in 1800 becomes the same city under the Nazis, in a bold new staging from Grange Park Opera that also gets all the basics right.”
“Isabela Matuła’s Tosca matures from a flighty girl whirling round the church, refusing her lover’s kiss because she must put flowers in front of the Madonna, to a woman at the end of her tether, her exaggerated movements fuelled by terror and disgust.”
“Scarpia himself – Brett Polegato, making his debut in the role – was oddly attractive, a silver fox in an elegant suit, not so much evil as desperately world-weary: no one likes him, and he doesn’t care.”
The Stage ★★★
Exciting
“Conductor Mark Shanahan effectively builds sound up to the epic first act ending with the stage filled with the principals and full-throated congregants and the BBC Concert Orchestra at full tilt. The balance is ideal, the power thrilling.”
“Marvellously assured, Brett Polegato holds things in reserve, using suggestion rather than over-display.”
“Polegato’s navy-suited Scarpia controls everything with ideal, deliciously smooth-voiced subtlety.”
Culture Whisper ★★★★
A stylish and powerfully sung production of Puccini’s most nail biting opera
“The voices of the singer Tosca, her painter lover Cavaradossi and the scheming Scarpia are well balanced..”
“Polish soprano Izabela Matula, as Tosca, is pure diva, dressed in an elegant fur-lined blue coat as the jealous lover in Act 1 and then all passion in a fiery red dress in Act 2. ”
“Otar Jorjika, cuts a fittingly intellectual figure as the artist absorbed in his work in the opening scene in the church. However, there is nothing merely cerebral about his heartfelt aria, a love letter to life itself, in Act 3, ‘E lucevan le stelle’, as he prepares to face death.”
“Brett Polegato evokes a mafia boss in his sharp double-breasted suit. He swaggers as he proclaims to the heavens in the closing scene in Act 1 his plan to execute Cavaradossi and seduce Tosca.”
“The BBC Concert Orchestra, under conductor Mark Shanahan, brings out the full glory of Puccini’s score.”
The Guildford Dragon ★★★★
Tosca by Grange Park Opera ‘New and Heart-Stopping’
“For anyone with a love of opera and high drama, I can only say: head at speed to West Horsley Place for a new and heart-stopping Tosca, staged by Grange Park Opera.”
Opera Today
“Izabela Matula was thrilling in the moments of emotional extremity.”
“The Georgian tenor Otar Jorjikia sang the role of Cavaradossi with muscular fervour.”
“Brett Polegato sang with authority, and with a strange and disturbing blend of menace and urbanity.”
Opera Scene ★★★★
Feisty Tosca fights the fascists
“Grange Park has brought together a powerful cast.”
“The singing grew with the intensity of the angst and passion.”
“Brett Polegato sang superbly.”