Tosca

Millennium Centre, Cardiff/Touring

5 Stars

Welsh National Opera provide a sparkling and enchanted evening with this production of Giacomo Puccini's well-loved opera.

First performed at the turn of the last century, this melodrama based on Victorien Sardou's play is set in 1800 where, in Naples, the king's rule is threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy.

In the ensuing scenes of torture, murder, suicide and doomed love, Mary Elizabeth Williams as Tosca is stunning. Her singing is an absolute joy but it is her characterisation of the capricious, jealous lover of the republican painter Mario Cavaradossi (Gwyn Hughes Jones) that raises her performance to a level of greatness.

Jones's opening aria in the cathedral sets the tone for a superb interpretation of Puccini's masterpiece while Claudio Otelli's malevolent portrayal of chief of police Baron Scarpia is a thing of genius. From his first appearance in act one to his centre-stage domination of act two as he uses the torture of Cavaradossi to force himself on Tosca, Otelli avoids the temptation to descend into pantomime in his portrayal of the evil Scarpia.

There's a particularly chilling moment as he sings that a woman's "violent surrender" brings him more joy then a willing one.

But it is Williams's portrayal of the diva utterly possessed by love that is central in propelling the production to the heights, most notably when she delivers the opera's most famous aria "I lived for art and I lived for love," to the impassive police chief.

David Pountney's tenure as chief executive and artistic director is driving the Welsh National Opera to superb heights of artistic and musical excellence and this Tosca is a reminder that opera at its best is a unique theatrical experience in moving the audience through the sheer beauty of the music, singing and acting.

This production does that in spades and deserves to be long remembered as the benchmark to judge future productions of this most popular of operas. Engaging the audience on so many levels, the combination of great acting, beautiful singing and an orchestra at the top of its game make this a must-see.

Runs until October 3, box office: (029) 2063-6464 then tours until November 30, details: www.wno.org.uk.

David Nicholson