Puccini’s Il trittico – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Puccini’s Il trittico is part of Scottish Opera’s 60th Anniversary programme. The company aims is “to lay the treasures of opera at the feet of the people of Scotland”. It certainly succeeds with this triple treasure of shorts.

Death unites this triptych, but the mood of each showcases Puccini’s inventive mind and creative breadth: aching thwarted love (Il Tabarro); misguided penance and cruel inhumanity (Suor Angelica); the delicious absurdity of human relationships (Gianni Schicchi). If one piece doesn’t touch your sensibility, then the others must, surely.

This Scottish Opera team is creative. Director, Sir David McVicar, houses Puccini’s music in stunning sets (designers Charles Edwards), costumes to delight (Hannah Clark), perfect lighting (Ben Pickersgill) and a fantastic orchestra, led by Stuart Stratford . And then, of course, there are the performers.

Opening with Il Tabarro, the opening notes, set and lighting were a promise of good things to come. The male voices captivated me. Roland Wood played a convincing, understated Michele and Victor Antipenko’s Luigi was perfect as the working man with a heart. Julian Close as Talpa has the most wonderfully deep resonance and his wife, La Frugola, was played with humour and warmth by Louise Winter. Sunyoung Seo’s debut with Scottish Opera as Georgetta was an effective fit with her two male counterparts.

But it was Seo’s performance as Sister Angelica that moved me to tears in the second opera, Suer Angelica. The woman sings like an angel. A sentimental piece, this may not be to everyone’s taste. But it touched my heart. Susannah Wapshott’s choral direction was spot on and the colour contrast and characterisation of the Princess (Karen Cargill) created a real chill on stage to preface the tragic ending. 

I found Francesca Chiejina’s rendition of O mio babbino caro in Gianni Schicchi truly endearing. The characterisation in this piece was wonderful and so in tune with the over-sized, excessive, cartoonish set. The tenderness between Lauretta and Gianni (the brilliant Roland Wood), her father, was warm and trusting while the foolish innocence of the lovers, Lauretta and Rinuccio (beautifully played by Elgan Llŷr Thomas) was both idiotic and charming in contrast to the scheming greed of the Donati family (each of whom were excellent).

I left the theatre satiated and uplifted. Scottish Opera is a force for music and culture on the world stage in my opinion.

Reviewer: Kathleen Mansfield

Reviewed: 22nd March 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★