Montanaro

The Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and conductor Carlo Montanaro present a powerful interpretation of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, together with a cast of soloists including Melody Moore (Tosca), Ștefan Pop (Cavaradossi) and Lester Lynch (Scarpia). Tosca has been an audience favourite from the onset. Premiered in 1900, it marks the beginning of twentieth- century opera, in which sex, violence and the uncanny abysses of the human psyche would be explored, inspiring composers to expand the musical means of expression in all thinkable ways.

…this is…a very attractive production. The sets and costumes are in period and completely traditional and tasteful. The stage action is thoroughly sensible and in accord with the libretto, and the acting by all the principals quite decent. Among the four lead singers, the standout is Silvia Dalla Genetta as Gulnara. Let’s hope that the exposure she receives here launches her on a major international career, for this is a world-class voice—a dramatic coloratura with a rapid but perfectly even vibrato; rich, penetrating vocal color devoid of shrillness on top; excellent breath control, including some marvelous soft singing; spot-on intonation; and an ability to handle wide intervallic leaps with aplomb.

This is a small-scale work, almost a chamber opera. There are only four principals, the chorus of pupils has limited involvement, and the orchestra isn’t particularly large. The plot is typical opera buffa: papa (bass) considers himself to be quite cultured. He has two soprano daughters, one of whom wants to marry Giuliano, the baritone. Giuliano has to disguise himself as a famous philosopher to gain papa’s approval to marry the younger daughter, Clarice. As if you haven’t guessed, all ends happily.

Quattro dischi all’attivo, premi vinti di qua e di là, partecipazioni a kermesse importanti: Térez Montcalm non avrebbe proprio bisogno di presentazioni. La cantante canadese, originaria del Quebec, anche conosciuta come la Janis Joplin del jazz, ha tale e tanta grinta da non risparmiarla per niente affatto nella sua espressività vocale. Che è dolce, nervosa, increspata e mai soverchiante. Sa passare dai momenti più intimistici (“Love”, “Growing Sronger”, “Parce que y a toi”, “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest World” di Elton John) a quelli più rock (la versione “unplugged” di “Voodoo Child” di Jimi Hendrix, e “Sweet Dreams” degli Eurytmichs), questa gentile Tom Waits in gonnella si diletta con la chitarra, ma anche col contrabbasso.

This production from Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti Modena is conducted by Fabrizio Ventura. He has performed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as well as the Arena di Verona and the Sydney Opera House. The cast is led Giacomo Prestia who has performed with some of the world’s greatest conductors including Abbado, Mehta, Muti, Gatti and Barenboim. He is supported by Mario Malagnini and Cellia Costea.