London Coliseum, 3 October 2016

Catherine Malfitano’s Tosca takes no prisoners. This is opera at its most visceral and, certainly in this revival, full-blooded and exciting. Some may dismiss the approach as old-fashioned, but what a delight it is to be able to sit through a whole evening without having to justify what is being presented to us, or make allowances for occasional weak casting.

The brooding sets by Frank Philipp Schlossman are just on the edge of naturalism, leading us gradually across the three acts to a world that is literally on the edge. When Tosca allows herself to fall backwards into the void it is as if she is being taken up rather than jumping to her death. A magnificent end to an evening which is full of thoughtful and moving moments.

American soprano, Keri Alkema was making her ENO debut in the title role and she will be welcome back at any time. Her Tosca is credible and sung with a careless abandon quite in keeping with the production. Vissi d’arte was rightly applauded though she maintained a sense of continuity even here.

Gwyn Hughes Jones is an heroic tenor, who throws off the top lines with aplomb and, having the stamina for Wagner, was in bright voice right to the end. E lucevan le stelle was assisted, not that it needed it, by the reflective nature of the set, the voice filling the auditorium with glorious power.

Craig Colcough, a fine Kurvenal in ENO’s recent Tristan, brings us an unusual Scarpia. This is a man who is so confident of his own power he is eternally relaxed and frequently jokey – the real threat lying with the unspeaking henchmen who surround him. His death comes as a shock to him – he can’t believe that it has come at the hands of a woman.

All the smaller parts are well characterised and I particularly enjoyed the idea of the Sacristan’s little helper.

Oleg Caetani allows the score its full force, though the introduction to act three showed unexpected sensitivity. The orchestra has lost none of its momentum over the summer and this promises to be, musically, an excellent season.