Magical occasion
On Friday to Crystal Palace Bowl (South Facing Festival) for the ENO’s Tosca; a semi-staged production in the open air.
The Bowl is surprisingly good acoustically, and modern sound systems meant that the full Orchestra, the Principals and a full Chorus, whilst miked, were as clear and pure as on the Coliseum stage.
It is surprising, of course, to see live opera where the singers’ faces are 20ft high on screens (and not all Opera singers have the faces for close-up!) but the excellent cast (Natalya Romaniw as Tosca, David Junghoon Kim as her lover Cavaradossi and Roland Wood as their nemesis Scarpia (why is it the head of a secret police force is always such a dick – eh Comrade Beria?) all sang pitch perfect, and with great expression.
Although we were lying down in a field, and getting slightly chilled towards the end, it was still hugely moving, and the standing ovation was not just the audience moving to get their circulation going again. As the night advanced the park and trees were magically illuminated, giving a very different 'vibe' to a theatrical performance. But no fireworks, save in the singing!
Sunday is the last night. [And it was nice to casually meet up with South London friends with the same idea of a Friday night out!]