Domingo fails to lift tired Tosca

This production of Tosca was first seen at the Royal Opera way back in 2006. Such has been its success that it has been revived six times and with Placido Domingo and Bryn Terfel at the helm of this current run, its popularity shows no sign of flagging.

This is a traditional production in all senses of the word. Paul Brown’s sets are all massive and darkly claustrophobic, set in the correct time and place, as are the costumes (a rarity in this day and age). Unfortunately acting and movement seem to have taken us back to an era where singers moved when they needed in order to deliver their arias, with little insight into character and motive. Amy Lane, the revival director for June (there was another one for May’s cast) seems to have made little conscious effort to give us anything but the bare bones of the story. Consequently chemistry…