<<  -- 3 --  Roderic Dunnett    UNUSUAL CHEMISTRY

Petru Racovita's Marcello was a first rate performance : there was a maturity in the relationship with Musetta, well cemented by this capably directed, generally lucid Act II, making sensible use for the principals of front stage (in a way British companies love never to do), which offset the other relationship perfectly.

Just as he did as Mozart's Figaro, in a slightly plodding, dated Chisinau production where his arias (though even they occasionally parted from the orchestra) were arguably the most galvanising thing, and as a sturdy, rather upright Alfio in Eleonora Constantinova's production of Cavalleria Rusticana (see last week's review, 'Moldovan magic'), Racovita has an undoubted presence which, coupled with his markedly strong but unforced baritone, commands immediate attention.

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