‘passion, drama, and beautiful music in an unforgettable evening of opera’
Flat Pack Music’s director Sarah Helsby Hughes and producer Joseph Buckmaster delightfully bring to life this thrilling melodrama with their concert staging collaboration performed with an English libretto translated by Christopher Cowell, delivering passion, drama, and beautiful music in an unforgettable evening of opera
Floria Tosca (Helsby Hughes) is the state’s celebrated ‘it-girl’ whilst her lover Mario Cavaradossi (Buckmaster) lives dangerously at the edges of the regime, using his work as an artist at a local church, overseen by a Sacristan (David Bicarregui), to preserve truth in a world built on fear and fake news. When he helps a hunted dissident, Angelotti (George Elson), he draws the attention of Baron Scarpia (Michael Dewis), the ruthless Chief of Police, aided by his associates Spoletta (Imogen Lock) and Sciarrone (Daniel Garvin). At the mercy of Scarpia’s twisted desires, Tosca is forced into making a horrific bargain: sleeping with the man she hates to save the man she loves. Can she find a way out?
With the political volatility of an early 19th C Rome transferred to a modern-day setting, this bold and innovative interpretation serves up the passion and dram, taking advantage of the available space – shared with the orchestra – and an adroit use of props to reflect the various scenes, with further clever and innovative use of visual and sound effects creating an impressive all-round powerful impact.
Musical Director Benjamin Ellin delightfully leads the orchestra, led by Matthew Chadbond, through the passion and drama of Puccini’s evocative score with the able support of a chorus from Huddersfield University Choir, with several standout moments, none more so than the powerful Act I finale. Although there were some balance issues at the beginning and some minor tuning issues in Act’s II and III, they did not unnecessarily detract from the rhythm and intensity of the on-stage action.
The three leads were excellent with Helsby Hughes embodying the contrasts in her character from jealous rage to passionate love, underscored by a deeper fragility and insecurity with her rendition of ‘Vissi d’arte’ quite moving.
Buckmaster excelled as Cavaradossi, impressively occupying the stage with his fine acting dovetailed with a powerful vocal performance which included the beautiful and sensitive delivery of ‘E lucevan le stelle’.
Dewis embodied the narcissism of a psychotic and psychopathic character with a raw, physical performance that toyed with being too close for comfort as it kept us on the edge of our seats, with his Act I closing ‘Te Deum’ quite mesmerising.
With strong support from Elson and Bicarregui in Act I, I also enjoyed Gavin’s nonchalance and Lock’s belligerence. A special mention for the on-stage chorus of Nia Edwards, Jasmine Higgs, Rachael Hughes, and Tamsin Sandford Smith who delivered fine vocal support and strong acting performances, with Sandford Smith also performing as a melodious Shepherd boy at the start of Act III.
Dating from 1881 and part of Kirklees Town Halls, Huddersfield Town Hall’s impressive 1100-seater concert hall offers a fantastic venue to experience live events, more information https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/town-halls/huddersfield-town-hall.aspx
Huddersfield University Choir is an unauditioned choir performing at the university, further details https://www.facebook.com/p/Huddersfield-University-Choir-61580156986145/
Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra is 135 years young with a reputation for bold and adventurous programming. Further details https://www.spo.org.uk/home
Flat Pack Music is a music charity based in North West England, dedicated to transforming perceptions of and engagement with music and the performing arts.
This was sadly the final performance of Tosca following a tour across the North of England, but Flat Pack Music will return in 2027 with Johann Straus II’s operetta Die Fledermaus, further information https://www.flatpackmusic.co.uk/
Reviewer: Mark Davoren
Review Date: 17th October 2026
Star Rating: FOUR