Opera Scotland

Tosca 2004Scottish Opera

Read more about the opera Tosca

Scottish Opera's 2004-05 season consisted of six events, five being full-scale stagings. The proceedings opened with a double-bill of early twentieth century classics, Duke Bluebeard's Castle and Erwartung. The autumn programme also contained a revival of Tosca, the vintage 1980 staging by the late Anthony Besch. The new year began with a rare sighting in Scotland of an opera by Tippett, The Knot Garden. Handel's wonderful setting of Restoration comedy, Semele, followed, and the fifth full-scale production was a revival of Fidelio. The early part of 2005 also featured a rare concert version of Andrea Chénier as well as the usual Highlands and Islands tour of Essential Scottish Opera.

Anthony Besch's Mussolini-era production of Tosca still seemed remarkably fresh in this restaging by Aidan Lang. Guido Ajmone-Marsan's Puccini interpretations sound entirely natural, and this cast was well chosen. Elena Zelenskaya fitted in well to the concept, and John Hudson continued to add performances of leading tenor roles. It was interesting to see Matthew Best, so identified with the Wagner repertoire, now trying one of the classic Italian parts.