Opera Scotland

Tabarro 2011English Touring Opera

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Il tabarro is a distinct rarity in Scotland by comparison with Gianni Schicchi, which is far more popular with students and amateur groups. This superb performance was its first professional showing here in fifty years. The design was very economical, but extremely effective, and concentrated attention on the performers. Michael Rosewell got lots of juice out of the orchestra, and Puccini's atmospherics came across ideally.

Simon Thorpe, returning to Scotland after a long gap, was a gruff but unusually sympathetic Michele. Julie Unwin followed her Tosca of a few seasons ago with a second Puccini role, subtly acted to give the impression that her marriage had only just started to go off the rails. Charne Rochford had the power required for Luigi (and brought out the pre-echoes of Turandot in the music), but looked and acted an appropriately youthful character. Clarissa Meek, who spent several seasons with Scottish Opera early in her career, made a vivid character out of La Frugola.