Opera

Tosca

Perth Concert Hall

Keith Bruce

four stars

THE ingredients for a first class Tosca are certainly all present in English Touring Opera's contribution to this year's Perth Festival. Soprano Paula Sides makes a real human being of the title character – arguably not something that is a given of the libretto – and sings the part beautifully, as her curtain call ovation recognised. Her Cavaradossi, Samuel Sakker, has a somewhat old-fashioned "showbiz" tenor voice, which also suited the character perfectly, leaving a slight lack of menace in Craig Smith's Scarpia as the only reservation of the central trio in this messy tale of principle and corruption, honour and lust.

Director Blanche McIntyre handles the meaty second act of all that with real flair in what is her opera debut. There are real dramatic challenges in pulling off the weird mix of on and off-stage action and this staging flows with the music as few achieve. In this she is hugely assisted by Florence de Mare's striking set, which looks superb in its simplicity on the wide Concert Hall stage, and is as cleverly functional as it is aesthetically pleasing, from easel to alter, or boudoir to battlements. Its steps and catwalks present challenges to the performers, however, and some of the arias are necessarily static as a result, while it works less well in the Act One scenes involving chorus and the (locally-recruited) children, than when there are fewer on stage.

Those vocal elements were as well-sung as everything else, and although this Tosca will certainly live in the mind as a visual experience, it is musically that the production really excels. The clarity of the singing from the ensemble and young people matched the performances of the principals and the balance of the sound was excellent at all times. Conductor (and ETO music director) Michael Rosewell has just a small touring orchestra with a dozen string players but at no time did it sound underpowered and crucial details on trombone, harp and clarinets were always exactly where they needed to be in the mix.

Another triumph for English Touring – and there is a suggestion that this company's regular sole venture across the border might occupy both this hall and Perth Theatre at next year's festival, which is a prospect to savour.