Anna Selby

Gregory Kunde is Otello and, at 65, his voice is strong and intense with a hint of hoarseness and at times it cracks heartbreakingly under the weight of his emotion and despair.

Played by Bryn Terfel, this is a Scarpia whose elemental violence is barely disguised by his sneer. Terfel commands the stage. He is the Weinstein of 1800, so utterly convinced by his own power, entitlement and invincibility that it is beyond his imagination that he will not overpower Tosca – let alone that she could overpower him.

Under Edward Gardner, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House finds the depth and soaring sweetness of Janacek’s music. The evening is inevitably carried, though, by Amanda Majeski, a magnificently tormented Katya with a lustrous, honeyed tone.

Did I say empty stage? It is, in fact, filled most of the time with the excellent chorus and equally brilliant children’s chorus all clearly having the time of their lives.

The audience response was ecstatic on the first night – and that’s not surprising. This is a Lucia with some great performances and a true star in Lisette Oropesa.

Julia Jones led the ROH orchestra at a cracking pace that captured every moment of joy and humour in a musically magnificent evening.