The Capulets and The Montagues - English Touring Opera

English Touring Opera return to Norwich Theatre this week with their passionate and stylish interpretation of Vinceno Bellini's opera 'The Capulets and The Montagues' ('I Capuleti e I Montecchi'). First performed in Venice in 1830, and based on an old Italian tale first published as a novella in the mid 16th century, this has become one of the most popular operas in Italy and yet, in this country remains much less known and is rarely performed.

For this production, director Eloise Lally has transported the action from classical Verona to 1970's New York City, and yet this is no West Side Story. Lally has taken her inspiration instead from the Mafia gangster films of Martin Scorsese, movies like 'Mean Streets' and 'Goodfellas', and also from chilling black and white images captured in Sicily and Naples at around the same time by Italian photojournalist Letizia Battaglia. The result is bold and daring, and yetremains completely gripping throughout its entire duration, rightthrough to its surprise conclusion.

Despite the tradition ofmany Italian operas of the time, where male castrati singers would take many of the leading roles, the parts of Romeo and Giulietta are sung by Welsh mezzo Samantha Price, and fellow soprano Jessica Cale. Together they become the tragic love-struck couplewhom have become so familiar to us. However, the finale may not be the one that you have come to expect. There are only three other singing named characters – gang leader Capellio is sung by Timothy Nelson, menacingly Godfather-like in every way; Brenton Spiteri is Tebaldo, Capellio's right hand man, Romeo's love rival, and arranged husband-to-be for Giulietta; and Masimbo Ushe is matchmaker and fixer Lorenzo (and also manager of Capellio's speakeasy bar and gang hangout). Together with the seven piece ensemble of pin-striped mob members, the action bundles along at a frantic pace, and all driven by a spectacular orchestra under the baton of Alphonse Cemin.

With a first Act set entirely within the interior of Cappellio's bar, beautifully designed by Lily Arnold and lit by Peter Harrison, Act Two comes as a complete surprise. As the curtain goes up we find ourselves on a rubble-strewn street just outside the bar, which had been spectacularly destroyed by a firebomb just before the interval. Lorenzo's plan to fake Giulietta's death and to bring Romeo to her tomb does not quite go to plan, but not in the way that Shakespeare described.

I have to admit that this was the most enjoyable and engrossing opera that I have attended in many a year, cementing the high esteem in which I hold English Touring Opera. It is slightly disappointing that this visit to Norwich Theatre features only one full-scale production instead of the usual two, but members of the company are also performing 'The Vanishing Forest', a newly commissioned opera aimed at children aged 7-11, and 'What Dreams May Come', a brand new musical piece set in a hospital where a sick man is visited by two magical birds. Each is being presented at Stage Two on Saturday March 15th.

If, like me, you adore opera, please remember to support the visits to Norwich of companies like ETO. Glyndebourne have already taken the difficult decision to discontinue their touring company. It is not just a loss to opera-loving audiences – the work that these companies do with local schools and community groups is also completely lost when touring stops. Opera may be regarded by some as elitist and niche, but so many have never been to one. So much of our music and culture has been shaped and influenced by the great opera composers. Remember what they said also about your local Post Office, bank and pub – use them or lose them.