neilshestopal 05 May 2009 at 1:36pm (Report this message)

I attended the first night of Tosca at the Israel Opera Company Tel Aviv on the 21 April in a production by Hugo de Ana. The singing was superb particularly that of Silvano Carroli – one of the great European Baritones who first sang at Covent Garden in 1977 – and whose Scarpia was as good a performance of that role as I have ever heard. It was a “special effects” production the scenery on stage was minimal and throughout the Opera the real scenery was provided by the camera filming inside and outside the Church of Sant’ Andrea della Valle. This form of special effects divided the audience, some approved heartily, others felt it was a part distraction from concentrating on the music and the singers. If anybody else has attended since please post your views.

Daniel Oren conducted the Orchestra with his usual aplomb. The orchestra never drowned the singers and his tempi were perfect through.

The stage direction was good save that there were the odd one or two occasions when one of the Principals faced away from the audience and the voice was lost.

From a personal point of view I found this to be one of the most enjoyable evenings I have spent at the Tel Aviv Opera House.

Whilst talking about Tosca, did anyone see the performance at the Puccini Festival at Torre del Lago in 1964 starring those two giants of the Operatic stage both regrettably now deceased – Mario del Monaco and Tito Gobbi? The particular night that I went the wind and rain did everything to prevent the production proceeding but neither succeeded and somehow although the wind caused inconvenience the rain stayed just a few kilometres away.

Neil Shestopal

OttoKristen 20 Feb 2010 at 3:45am (Report this message)

You lucky duck,Neil.I saw Tosca with Carlo Bergonzi in Hamilton Ontario,just before he retired.