THE ENGLISH Touring Opera began its latest visit to Durham’s Gala Theatre with a staging of Puccini’s popular La bohème.

Director James Conway’s production was a distinctly gloomy affair, with the austere set of the Parisian garret and monochrome costumes adding to the oppressive feel of poverty.

The dim lighting was offset by radiant performances from a strong cast.

Singing with a silky tenor, David Butt Phillip played an animated Bohemian poet Rodolfo, while he in turn was well coupled with Ilona Domnich’s Mimi. Their love duet in the first act provided one of many highlights of the evening.

The bustling street market focussed on a Punch and Judy show, which at times mimicked the action on the stage.

A healthy dash of colour was added by the sensational Sky Ingram, as the siren Musetta. Her blazing red hair was matched by a dazzling scarlet dress.

Singing ravishingly of her allure on other men (Quando me’n vo), she grabbed the attention not only of a jealous Marcello (Grant Doyle), but of an enraptured audience as well.

Special mention has to go pupils of South Shields’ Harton Primary School pupils who played the street urchins and sang with gusto, clearly enjoying every moment.

Matthew Stiff (Colline) gave a noble rendition of his farewell to his coat, pawned to buy medicine for the ailing Mimi.

The opera leads inexorably to the death of Mimi, who was picked out of the dark by a bright light as she gasped her last.

The score, regarded as Pucinni’s most perfectly achieved, was given lavish treatment by the orchestra under the baton of James Henshaw.

Gavin Engelbrecht

Donizetti's The Siege of Calais is staged at the Gala Theatre at 7.30pm. Box office: 03000 266600