Nick to play Scarpia in Opera Holland Park's Tosca

xantha · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:28 am Post subject:

There seems to be some additions to the ticket exchange section on Opera Holland Park's website. There are now tickets available for sale on 3rd July, 5th July and 13th July. For further information, click on the link in the previous message.

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 554

Hope rehearsals are going well for Nick.
2 and 1/2 weeks before TOSCA will start, can't wait to see and HEAR my souls delight!

Laughing

xaria · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject:

Same here

Can't wait to see it! x

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 372

Looking forward to seeing it as well. Very Happy

Are there any other GG's attending?

xantha · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 5:14 am Post subject:

I think as Nick would put it, the "usual suspects" are going on various days. Added to that, he will have the US contigent of Garrett Girls, so hopefully he will have support on just about every night.
I'm looking forward to meeting up with as many of you as possible and of course I am very eager to see Nick as Scarpia and hear him sing Te Deum.

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 372

I hope the rehearsals are going well, next week this US Garrett Girl will be in one of those seats....I'm so excited! Very Happy

xantha · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:32 am Post subject:

Good Luck to Nick and his fellow cast members - wishing you a wonderful opening night tomorrow and a successful run of Tosca.
To everyone going, have a great time and hopefully I'll see a few of you there! Smile

xantha · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:

And this is what the critics had to say.........

Nicholas Garrett makes a stunning Scarpia. Vocally he is perhaps a touch too smooth, but he carries his lean, athletic frame with potent menace and magnetism. His attempt to subjugate Tosca in Act 2 comes with an undertone of violence that is theatrically incendiary. As, too, is Tosca’s end - but that’s a surprise. (The Stage)
For full article CLICK HERE

Nicholas Garrett's Scarpia, languidly serpentine in a shiny suit, is as alluring as he is frightening. It all makes for incendiary music theatre - quite literally at one point. (The Guardian)
To read the full article CLICK HERE

Scarpia, as played by Nicholas Garrett, is a real smooth operator who can appear to be good-hearted while underneath he is a volcano of evil and cruelty waiting to erupt. Garrett’s Scarpia is excellent and combines the obvious attraction he has for women that is sexual rather than being a man of position. His obsession with Tosca is very apparent in ‘Ha piừ forte sapore’. (Classical Music)
To read the full article CLICK HERE

Nicholas Garrett is both sexy and menacing as Scarpia. (Bloomberg.com)
To read the full article CLICK HERE

Nicholas Garrett mixes sexiness, menace and glorious phrasing as Scarpia. (Metro)
To read more CLICK HERE

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 554

Oh wow xantha, thanks for the reviews, and all more than deserving.
Mesmerizing is one missing discription as of yet!
As a fan of Nick it was obvious -to me- that he would be good in that role but Nick has a habit of blowing you away by always adding on that little extra.
He knows moody, he knows dark - he personified Scarpia with a touch of evil I did not know he could do.
Our gentle, charming Nick, (self proclaimed moody and dark)with that chocolate voice, added an evilness to his interpretaion so very suitable for the production.

(the new Mr Happy)
This production was set in 1968 and Scarpia has turned into a Godfather worthy of the Al Capone award if there is one! That silky suit and the dark sunglasses - will melt you right from the start!
Nicks voice so perfectly suited for this, was traumatic, evil - and excitingly smooth and sexy at the same time! A fleeting fantasy of wanting to be Tosca while being abused (really) enters one's mind. Nick sings with full force being in perfect harmony with all other cast members. The entire cast 'played' very well with each other and all down to the last extra walking along the stage, gave a great performance full of emotions and excellent voices.
I only arrived back home in the US tonight and could not wait to share with all. There are still some shows left so if anyone would like to see a great performance with a little sexy evilness... it certainly is worth checking to see if any tickets are left to be had and add it to your summer list of things to do.

ps it was great meeting with some of Nicks 'usual suspects'! The Garrett Girls are a great lot for sure - I am happy that this time around I was able to share the fun of being in the audience.

xantha · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

Snake-hipped and suave, Nicholas Garrett's Scarpia moves like a dancer. His is a light voice but he uses it imaginatively, conveying more malevolence in his slight frame than many heavy-set baritones. (The Independent) To read the full review CLICK HERE

xantha · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject:

For the Classicalx review CLICK HERE

Nick mentioned after the performance on Thurs that the dress rehearsal on the Monday night was the first time that the whole cast had been able to rehearse together. I had thought the performance had been amazing but this little bit of info makes it even more remarkable.Well done to all the cast and crew. Smile

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 372

Great Reviews! I absolutely loved it, Nick did an outstanding job vocally & his performance of Scarpia was brilliant. You could not take your eyes off of him, he was just so amazing. Very Happy

The cast were amazing as well, such beautiful voices...I was brought to tears with "E Lucevan Le Stelle" sung by Sean Ruane. I would of seen every performance if I could. Smile

I had a great time in London and meeting up with the Garrett Girls was great fun as well.

xantha · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject:

Connie, I am glad that you enjoyed your trip to London, meeting some of your fellow Garrett Girls and of course, seeing Nick perform live! I hope you took home lots of happy memories - and photos to remind you of your trip. Very Happy

xantha · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:00 am Post subject:

It shouldn’t work, but it does, thanks to Barlow’s unerring stage-craft - only the nonflagration of Tosca’s suicide misses the mark -/and compelling performers as Scarpia and Tosca.

Nicholas Garrett acts the sharp-suited, thuggish politico memorably, while Amanda Echalaz sings a Floria in the Callas mould, flashing her tigress temperament and thrilling high Cs with the same precision and venom deployed when she digs the spikes of her tiara into her tormentor’s throat.

(Times Online) To read the full article CLICK HERE

Soprano Amanda Echalaz played Tosca beautifully, while Nicholas Garrett's Scarpia and Seán Ruane’s Caravadossi were equally poised.
(Scoop) To read the full aricle CLICK HERE

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 554

He he, wonder if that was the same Mazarati I was admiring...
Hope Nick got to take it for a spin!! He certainly deserve a treat after all those performances. Congratulations once more to Nick!

Though I still prefer that Ferrari we saw Very Happy