Jakub Hrůša Begins Tenure as Music Director of The Royal Opera with “Inspired, Superb” Tosca

Jakub Hrůša has launched his tenure as Music Director of The Royal Opera to great acclaim with Oliver Mears’ new production of Puccini’s Tosca. Starring Anna Netrebko in the title role, Tosca also stars Freddie De Tommaso as Mario Cavaradossi and Gerald Finely as Scarpia and features sets by Simon Lima Holdsworth, costumes by Ilona Karas and lighting by Fabiana Piccioli.

“Musically, it’s a fabulous evening,” writes Richard Morrison in his 5 star review in The Times, “Royal Opera’s new music director, Jakub Hrůša, paces the drama perfectly and inspires superb orchestral playing.”

“The house lights were dimmed only a fraction of a second before Hrůša landed Puccini’s opening orchestral chords, gleaming and bottom-heavy…Holding it all together from the pit, Hrůša drove forwards and pulled back with absolute musical confidence, making space for moments of beauty but mining from the darkest, grittiest passages of Puccini’s score a performance of tremendous emotional force,” praises The Guardian’s Flora Wilson.

Hailing an “impassionately conducted, and scrupulously played performance,” Music OMH’s Keith McDonnell writes, “This was Jakub Hrůša’s first appearance as the Royal Opera’s Music Director, and the occasion felt properly marked. He began in darkness with those menacing opening bars already in motion and proceeded to draw playing of colour, sweep and bite from the orchestra. Crucially, he keeps textures transparent and is acutely alive to his singers’ needs; climaxes surge without swamping, and inner detail tells without fussy micromanagement. There was a clear sense of mutual respect between pit and podium, and the players responded with some of their most alert, characterful work in recent seasons – brass blazing in the Te Deum, strings supple and cushioned in the gentler sections, woodwind lines etched with character throughout.”

Richard Fairman writes in his 5-star review in the Financial Times that, “Hrůša gets first-class playing from the orchestra. …As a start to the new regime, this high-profile evening makes quite a statement of intent.”

The Evening Standard’s Barry Millington states that, “Hrusa demonstrated last night, drawing wonderful playing from this exceptional orchestra, that the house was once again in very accomplished hands. …Hrůša’s handling of the score, meticulously pointed but shaped with loving Italianate warmth, is gripping…this promises to be a five-star show”

Hrůša gives, “a tremendously effective, reading of the ever-fresh, ever-frightening score,” notes The Telegraph’s Nicholas Kenyon, with The Stage’s George Hall adding that, “he structures each act as a fluid unit, every rise and fall in emotional tension perfectly realised. The orchestra plays at its highest level.”

“The Royal Opera’s new music director Jakub Hrůša conducts with tremendous drama,” writes London Theatre’s Julia Rank, predicting that, “it isn’t difficult to envision this new production remaining part of the repertoire for some years to come.”

Tosca runs at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden through 7 October. Watch in cinemas from 1 October. Click here for more information and to find a screening.

Watch The Royal Opera’s Tosca Insights on YouTube

Jakub Hrůša Begins Tenure as Music Director of The Royal Opera with “Inspired, Superb” Tosca

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