Tobias Ringborg (Conductor), Martin Lloyd-Evans (Director), Robert B Dickson (Lighting), Kally Lloyd Jones (Movement Director), Raymond Short (Fight Director).
Il trovatore, along with Rigoletto and La traviata, is a must-see grand opera by Verdi. Il trovatore is based in Spain in the 15th century. Years earlier a gypsy was wrongly accused of casting her spell on the youngest of the Di Luna children. For this the gypsy woman was burnt alive. She asked Azucena, her daughter, to retaliate and so she abducted the baby. Martin Lloyd-Evans, the director, has explored the dread and superstition of the Dark Ages. This is assisted in no small part by a grim and grey stage.
Claire Rutter as Leonora, lady-in-waiting to the Princess of Aragon and Gwyn Hughes Jones, in his Scottish Opera debut, as Manrico, an officer in the army of the Prince of Urgei were both particularly memorable. But it was hard to fault others let alone the strong supporting chorus.
The orchestra, under the baton of Swedish born Tobias Ringborg, played in a crisp and clear manner and there were those familiar melodies to warm the heart.
We saw a particularly powerful performance from Scottish Opera that is highly recommended.
Performance reviewed:Thursday 21st May 2015 at 7.15pm. Further Edinburgh performances on Sunday 24th May at 4pm, Wednesday 27th May at 7.15pm and Saturday 30th May at 7.15pm