reviews

SCÈNES

“...Van Eijk creates a strong, contemporary Tosca. It's no wonder all the performances are sold out. But that's always the case in Spanga. It's remarkable that the company has managed to maintain this consistently high quality for so many years.”

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Leeuwarder Courant | 5 🌟

“…here Van Eijk once again breaks with tradition in an admirable way…”

“…and the quality of the soloists alone deserves the maximum number of stars.”

“…proven many times over. And has more or less become cultural heritage.”

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Theaterkrant

“The fascist context of Il Duce isn't really essential to the storyline, except that the costumes are brown and drab and Scarpia's bloodthirsty henchmen are gruesome, with extra praise for the falsely cruel paladin Spoletta (Koen Masteling).

“Under the musical direction of Tjalling Wijnstra, who transformed the score for a small but effective ensemble (with magnificent wind instruments!), this opera noir is above all an opera of doom, right from the first ominous notes.”

"The developments towards the end are fast and explosive, and the prescribed ending, in which Tosca leaps into the void (nel vuoto), has been omitted. Suddenly, death is everywhere, the themes of fate resounding relentlessly from the orchestra pit. Sezer's Tosca moves you deeply."

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De Groene Amsterdammer

"Moreover, she boasts a formidable cast, both musically and theatrically. Tosca and Mario are the perfect couple: young and handsome. Aylin Sezer (Tosca) has a beautiful voice, large and balanced in all registers. Her counterpart, Mario (Juan Carlos Echeverry), has a warm (never a dull moment) tenor with which he wins not only Tosca but also the hearts of the entire audience. Scarpia (baritone David Visser) possesses an overwhelming volume but stands out above all as a phenomenal actor."

"This Tosca is anything but funny. Surprising, though. Not because of Scarpia's transgressive behavior, who, as every opera lover knows, forces the attractive Tosca to have sex by torturing her lover. That Scarpia pays for his blackmail with his life is also well known. The perspective on Tosca is surprising. She is usually portrayed as a fury driven by blind emotion, who, in a fit of madness, stabs Scarpia in the back."

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PLACE DE L'OPERA

"Excellent singers in Spanga's thrilling Tosca."

"With soprano Aylin Sezer, Spanga offers a beautiful, dramatically colorful Tosca. Sezer not only has a brilliant high register to portray Tosca's love emotions, but she also offers exemplary acting as a counterpoint to the pushy brute Scarpia."

"Baritone David Visser is perfectly suited to the role of Scarpia. Thanks to his substantial stature and large, agile voice, exciting confrontations with the woman he wants to win over arose. But Visser is no creep; his acting is straightforward..."

"In the beautiful 'E lucevan le stelle,' Echeverry sang with passion, beautifully complemented by the excellent clarinetist Marco Danesi. Moreover, the entire wind section delivered a beautiful harmony with the string orchestra in the various interludes.

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OPERA MAGAZINE

This summer hotspot for opera in the Netherlands in Spanga.

..."David Visser proved a towering, frightening Scarpia..."

"As Cavardossi, Juan Carlos Echerverry sang with care in a fine lyric tenor voice."

"The conductor Tjalling wijnstra led an exciting reading of the score in an excellent arragement for a much-reduced orchestra, with Marco Danesi outstanding in his clarinet solo at the beginning of the third act."

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audience reactions

"...A beautiful Tosca, with beautiful singers, a wonderful staging, well-acted, and in a beautiful location. The swallows even sang along! Last winter we saw Tosca at the Staatsoper Berlin; your Tosca was much more impressive..."

"The rehearsal of the opera Tosca was stunningly good. After a few weak years, this year's performance is magnificent. A powerful story, but with brilliant singing and an intimate and emotional performance. A powerful, moving opera in a simple barn."

"Tosca was another fantastic performance. A warm welcome, a delicious meal, and a beautiful setting. We'll be back every year!"

"I'd like to compliment you [Corina] and your team on the fantastic performance of the opera Tosca. We and our friends thoroughly enjoyed the performance. It's a tremendous achievement to create such a beautiful show with such limited resources. And of course, the main characters, besides their musical talent, also have fantastic facial expressions. Thanks also for the wonderful seats. I've rarely been able to witness an opera so closely, and what an opera it is! Wonderful! So many rave reviews, and well-deserved."

"Thanks to everyone for a beautiful and relevant opera!"