Reviews:
Autumn 04 Tour La Bohème “The
ever-more sprightly English Touring Opera launched its annual season at the
Hackney Empire with a lively new version of La Bohème. Annilese Miskimmon's
staging is almost wilfully modern, with the Cafe Momus reduced to a burger
stall and the customs post to a raunchy strip-joint. The choruses are cut and
Puccini's big moments lose their impact in Jonathan Dove's reduced
orchestration, but the show's sheer good humour and theatricality should win
opera much-needed new audiences in provincial theatres throughout the land. All
four principals for once look their age and sing charmingly ... Douglas Bowen's
manly Marcello is exemplary and Charlotte Ellett's Musetta suitably vampish,
with Tamsin Coombs a pure-voiced and heartbreaking Mimi. Amid strong company
support, Keel Watson's resonant Colline bids farewell to his coat with due
poignancy. [T]his is a vivid Bohème for our times, well worth catching as it
approaches a theatre near you.” Anthony
Holden, The Observer “The singing
… is the some of the best I have heard from ETO: a really promising Mimi and
Marcello from Tamsin Coombs and Douglas Bowen; a scene-stealing Musetta
(Charlotte Ellett), who could transfer to almost any of the big British
companies tomorrow.” Hugh Canning,
The Sunday Times: Culture “The Act 4
dance episode, so often an embarrassment, has rarely been funnier, largely
thanks to Joe Corbett’s laddish, predatory Schaunard and Keel Watson’s burly
Colline, both of whom sing and act with assurance. Tamsin Coombs is an
outstanding Mimi … Hers is not a big soprano, but it is warm and vibrant, and
she moulds the vocal line with due regard for words Douglas Bowen and Charlotte
Ellett are knock-outs as Marcello and Musetta. Both stylishly deploy big,
centred voices and fully command the stage.” David
Blewitt, Opera “The
setting of Boheme was contemporary with the audience being greeted by a
striking set by Dick Bird and atmospheric lighting by Colin Grenfell Tamsin
Coombs, as Mimi, and Amos Christi, as Rodolfo, excelled in their roles. They
brought out the anguish and torment of their characters in a most convincing
and emotional way – even down to the last gasp! And Charlotte Ellett, as
Musetta, was just the right girl to give the landlord a good run for his money
while her boyfriend, Marcello, was admirably sung by Douglas Bowen. The
company’s master carpenter, Bob Belsen, also found himself part of the action
as the hot-dog seller. He wore earmuffs throughout. Perhaps he didn’t like Puccini.” Tony
Cooper, Eastern Daily Press “Without
exception the singing was superb and certainly in the case of Marcello (Douglas
Bowen) and Mimi (Tamsin Coombs), exceptional. As the tragic heroine, Coombs’
voice soared with a resonance that promised spellbinding performances to come,
while Bowen’s warm baritone provided the perfect foil to Amos Christie’s
(Rodolfo) tenor; and added richness to the ensemble pieces.” “The ETO
gave a masterly performance. The set was perfect, versatile and intelligently
designed; it emphasised the bleak discomfort of the opera while having the odd
wry commentary on modern life – the broken microwave, the steel scaffolding and
the salacious signs of a large city district today. Despite the
modern setting, the opera was true to its composer; the arias were beautifully
and sensitively sung by Amos Christie (Rodolfo) and Tamsin Coombs (Mimi) who
did not stray into mawkishness. The clarity of Charlotte Ellett’s singing
(Musetta) – now coquettish, now warmly sympathetic – blended well with the
smoothly controlled voice of Douglas Bowen (Marcello). … the mock
Sumo wrestling of Keel Watson (Colline) was delightful, his shape and deep rich
voice adding another dimension to the whole event. The small
compass and shape of the theatre were used brilliantly by the director,
Annilese Miskimmon, to give a very intimate style, in touch with the realism
sought by the 19th century French writers of the opera’s origins. The
simplicity and delicacy she achieved in the last act were breathtaking. One was
left with the feeling that Puccini would have been well pleased with this
modern performance, faithful to his conception and also using today’s setting
to emphasise universal truths. The babble
of the audience as they left – released from the spell of the music – was
measure of their recent deeply moving experience.” Rona
Collins, Runcorn Weekly News “The opera
was fast-paced and varied, effortlessly bouncing from comedy to tragedy with
equal conviction. The banter and camaraderie between the four male characters
was convincing and funny, while Charlotte Ellett created a loud and voluptuous
Musetta, perfectly complementing Douglas Bowen’s powerful Marcello. When
philosopher Colline sold his beloved coat to pay for Mimi’s medicine at the end
of act IV, it was a truly moving experience.” GA,
Faversham Times “Christie’s
voice and looks are the stuff that stars are made of” Michael
Tanner, The Spectator “Sublime
singing, an intriguing set design and ravishing plying ensured a magical
evening. “A talented
English Touring Opera gave an exceptional performance of Puccini’s opera La
Boheme” WH, |
