Tosca at the Royal Opera House

On Saturday 20th July 2013 I attended the matinee performance of Puccini's Tosca at the Royal Opera House. Jonathan Kent’s production of Tosca performed by The Royal Opera is full of drama, passion and fabulous music. There was a great atmosphere at the Royal Opera House on this beautiful Summer's afternoon in London's Covent Garden.

Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples's control of Rome threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. It contains depictions of torture, murder and suicide, yet also includes some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias, and has inspired memorable performances from many of opera's leading singers.

Tosca tells the story of the love between the famous opera singer Floria Tosca and the painter and political activist Mario Cavaradossi. Cavaradossi sends the political escapee and former Roman Consul-General, Cesare Angelotti, to hide down the well in his garden. The evil Baron Scarpia is determined to have Tosca for himself, and invites her to supper in order to discover the whereabouts of Angelotti. He orders the torture of Cavaradossi in her earshot. Unable to bear his screams of pain, Tosca willingly gives up the information – but not before she has persuaded Scarpia to allow her and her lover to escape from Rome.

He insists that to satisfy the authorities, Cavaradossi must undergo a mock execution, and arranges this with one of his henchmen, Spoletta. He then provides Tosca with a note of safe-conduct for her and her lover. As Scarpia attempts to ravish Tosca, she stabs him. Before his body is discovered, she rushes to the prison in the Castel Sant'Angelo to tell Cavaradossi that he has to face the firing squad, that the muskets will contain blanks, and he will have to act his death. But Scarpia has tricked Tosca - the bullets are real. As Cavaradossi lies dead and Scarpia's henchmen approach, Tosca is left with no alternative and takes her own life.

There were brilliant performances from Martina Serafin as Floria Tosca, Aleksandrs Antonenko as Mario Cavaradossi and Scott Hendricks as Baron Scarpia as well as amazing music from The Orchestra of The Royal Opera House conducted by Daniel Oren. This was an emotional afternoon at the Royal Opera House which was greatly enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience. Tosca is one of the great Operas and the Royal Opera House is the perfect venue to experience Puccini's masterpiece.

Norwich Music Group at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On the evening of Saturday 23rd February 2013 I attended the Norwich Music Group concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich in support of The Lymphoma Association. The Norwich Music Group is the brainchild of Julian Musgrave, Philip Aldred and Frances Banham and was formed with the express purpose of performing the great choral works in Norwich's fine Churches using the best Singers and Instrumentalists.

Philip Aldred conduced the Norwich Music Group with a programme that consisted of Messa Di Gloria - Puccini, Gaelic Blessing - Rutter, The Lord Bless You And Keep You - Rutter, Cantique de Jean Racine - Faure and Requiem - Faure. This was a wonderful selection of music to fill St. Peter Mancroft Church and make this a night to remember.

Daniel Bartlette - Tenor and Fearghus Cooper - Bass featured on Puccini's Messa Di Gloria while June Harrison - Soprano and Fearghus Cooper performed Faure's Requiem. This was a concert of wonderful choral music composed by Giacomo Puccini, John Rutter and Gabriel Faure.  Puccini's Messa Di Gloria composed in 1880 which is distinguished by the beauty of its vocal writing and by a heart warming lyricism underscored by extremely inventive instrumentation opened the evening's music.

Gabriel Fauré composed his Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, between 1887 and 1890. The choral-orchestral setting of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead is the best known of his large works. This was a splendid piece of music to finish the evening. The concert was a great success with brilliant performances from the Orchestra and the Choir while at the same time supporting the Lymphoma Association.

St. Gregory's Orchestra's Remembrance Day Concert

On the afternoon of Sunday 11th November 2012 I attended the St. Gregory's Orchestra's Remembrance Day Concert at Princes Street United Reformed Church, Norwich. The orchestra were conducted by Martin Wyatt with Alison Mills as Leader. Soloists were Kevin O'Regan and Beverley McInnes.

The programme consisted of The Warsaw Concerto - Addinsell, Crisantemi - Puccini, Roses of Picardy - Wood/Weatherly, Movements from Czech Suite - Dvorak and Symphony No.5 - Tchaikovsky. The concert was given in aid of Princes Street United Reformed Church, which faces large bills for essential repairs and maintenance. This beautiful building is not just a place of worship but also home to numerous local organisations.

There was a very nice atmosphere at the venue as the St. Gregory's Orchestra played a wonderful programme of music. From The Warsaw Concerto which evoked memories of the 1940's to Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.5 Martin Wyatt conducted the orchestra splendidly. Refreshments were served in the coffee bar during the interval.

Madama Butterfly at Norwich Theatre Royal

On Tuesday 7th February 2012 I attended the Ukrainian National Opera of Kharkiv's performance of Madama Butterfly. This is one of the world's most popular operas with music by Giacomo Puccini and was performed by one of the great East European national companies. 

With Elena Dee as Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly) and Andriy Perfilov as Lieutenant F B Pinkerton along with the Orchestra being conducted by Gheorghe Stanciu this was always going to be a special night at Norwich Theatre Royal.

A young Japanese girl, Cio-Cio-San of Nagasaki decides to  marry Lieutenant Pinkerton of the American Navy the man she loves. Pinkerton sees this marriage as a short-lived adventure while Cio-Cio-San's love knows no boundaries.

The marriage broker Goro shows Pinkerton around the home he will share with Butterfly and warns him about the tragic consequences his game could have. Pinkerton ignores the warning and the marriage ceremony begins. The unexpected appearance of her Uncle Bonze unnerves the guests. He utters blasphemies against the girl who has denied the ancient customs. Uncle Bonze leaves taking all the guests with him leaving the two lovers alone at last. They sing of their love binding them together into a serene and endless happiness.

Cio-Cio-San lives with her devoted friend and servant Suzuki. Pinkerton left the country promising to return in one year but three years later he has still not returned. Consul Sharpless brings Cio-Cio-San a letter announcing the expected arrival of an American ship but he does not have the heart to tell her Pinkerton has remarried, especially when she introduces him to her and Pinkerton's son.

A cannon announces the ship's arrival and Cio-Cio-San embellishes her house with flowers. Suzuki and the child sleep and only Cio-Cio-San is awake listening to the Marines' chorus. She retires to her bedroom exhausted. Meanwhile Sharpless and Pinkerton enter the house while Pinkerton's new wife Kate waits in the garden.

Suzuki is asked to explain to Cio-Cio-San that Pinkerton wishes to take her child away with him and his wife. Cio-Cio-San appears filled with happiness at the sight of her husband but seeing Suzuki's solemn face she realises his true intentions are to take away her child. The child is separated from his loving mother, who, distraught, kills herself.

This was a wonderful evening to be at Norwich Theatre Royal as we were brought a splendid performance from the Ukrainian National Opera of Kharkiv of Puccini's masterpiece. This is a heart-breaking story that made an emotional mark on this truly magical night.

La Boheme at Norwich Theatre Royal

On Friday 18th November 2011 I attended the Glyndebourne Opera's performance of Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme at Norwich Theatre Royal. This was a wonderful opportunity for everyone in Norwich to witness world class Opera locally, this being one night of a five night residency which included performances of Don Pasquale and Rinaldo.

The writer Rodolfo and painter Marcello complain about their cold flat and burn Rodolfo's latest script. The philosopher Colline and the musician Schaunard return with supplies and money and after Benoit their landlord comes for his rent but gets plied with drink and is thrown out the friends go out to Cafe Momus leaving Rodolfo to stay and finish an article.

Rodolfo is interrupted by a neighbour, Mimi, whose candle has gone out. Mimi faints and when she revives he relights her candle but she has lost her key and her candle goes out for a second time. Rodolfo puts his candle out and tells Mimi about his life and dreams while Mimi tells of her life of sewing. They declare their love and leave for Cafe Momus. On the way Rodolfo buys Mimi a hat before joining his friends for dinner.

Marcello's ex-lover Musetta and her wealthy benefactor Alcindoro turn up and Marcello is unable to ignore Musetta as she sings about her own beauty and allure. Musetta sends Alcindoro to buy her a new pairs of shoes and Musetta and Marcello are reconciled. The friends join a street parade leaving Alcindoro to pay the bill.

A few months later Mimi searches for Marcello who has moved in with Musetta. Overcome with coughing she arrives to tell Marcello that Rodolfo walked out and is consumed by jealousy. When Rodolfo appears she hides and overhears he wants to leave her because he can't cope with her illness. He thinks her condition is due to his poverty. Rodolfo hears Mimi cry and rushes to her and they agree to part until spring.

The friends making the best of a bad situation make their own entertainment when Musetta bursts in with Mimi who is dying. Mimi has left her rich lover as she wanted to be brought back to die. Musetta, Marcello and Colline go to sell their things to buy medicine while Mimi and Rodolfo reaffirm their love and reminisce. The friends return and Musetta gives Mimi something to keep her warm and prays. Mimi dies peacefully leaving Roldolfo grief-stricken.

Complete with a rotating centre stage the story is now set in modern day Paris. With amazing performances from all the cast and brilliance from the Glyndebourne Orchestra this was a very special night at Norwich Theatre Royal. The sad ending emotionally moved us but throughhout the performance there were many times when the theatre was full of laughter.