Tosca closed the November operas “PUCCINI”, indeed to celebrate the centenary of the death of this genius, operas around the world monopolized to highlight Mr. Giacomo Puccini with 10 operas, each more beautiful than the last, and as much as last Friday I came to see La Bohème staged, the only performance of Tosca on Saturday, December 16 was semi-staged.

This summer at the Chorégies d’Orange, I had already had the chance to see Roberto Alagna in the role of Mario Cavaradossie, but this time, he was taking on the same role at the Monte Carlo Opera, where he took his first steps in the role of Alfredo Germont in 1989… 1989 my friends, I was one year old! And 35 years later, I see this same singer who has scoured all the world stages, who is the darling of the French public and who takes the opera to another level, and who beyond the status of tenor, he has the status of a true artist in France and Europe. And what a great evening for him, he knows this role like the back of his hand, he knows the smallest details of the score and it shows!

Although opposite him, the role of Floria Tosca performed by Maria José SIRI was unfortunately less spectacular. I like fiery Toscas, I like Toscas with character, I like Toscas with bite, and generally, from her first words of the opera when she calls Mario outside the church, the tone is set, the 3 “Mariiiooooooo, marriooooooo mariooooo” announce the beginning of hostilities!

Unfortunately, and surely due to the few rehearsals, Maria José SIRI, although very talented, did not meet my expectations and her role as Tosca will not remain in my memory for very long.

Quite the opposite… quite the opposite for our national Luca SALSI! Whom I saw this year as Simon Boccanegra in Milan, whom I saw as Amonastro in Aida in Verona, whom I saw in Nabucco in Berlin, whom I saw as Scarpia in Verona… my friends, I tell you, this guy knows how to sing and act! I love those sadistic looks, I love when he plays on words when he questions TOSCA… this guy is extraordinary, if you look up the definition of the word “Italian” in the dictionary, it is without a doubt towards the homonym “Luca Salsi” that he will bring you.. GRAZIE LUCA!

Once again, surely due to rehearsals that were too short, but Marco Armiliato’s music, although so right.. so right last week in La Bohème, serves us music that is very slow to my taste, with many of his musicians not in the rhythm, brass that start a second early, moments of doubt in the orchestra and it shows. Once again I am quite lenient since it was only ONE performance, and in the form of a concert, but still, we swear by Puccini’s music, and last night he must not have been very happy with where he was looking at us.

A quick word about Giorgi Manoschvili, whom I hope to see soon take flight across the European stages in bigger roles and in beautiful productions. He has talent, that’s clear, and it’s frustrating to hear so little of him!

©OMC Marco Borrelli

CASTING:

Musical direction | Marco Armiliato

Floria Tosca | Maria José Siri

Mario Cavaradossi | Roberto Alagna

Baron Scarpia | Luca Salsi

A sacristan | Giovanni Romeo

Cesare Angelotti | Giorgi Manoshvili

Spoletta | Reinaldo Macias

Sciarrone | Paolo Marchini

A jailer | Fabio Bonavita

A shepherd | Galia Bakalov