UK Theatre Network

Premiered in 1917 La rondine (the Swallow) marked a return to composing for Puccini after health  problems and difficulties in his family life. Puccini is unrivalled for his depiction of love and tragedy through passion, and  Tom Hawkes production is perhaps the most romantic of Opera Holland Park's  2011 season.

Kate Ladner as Magda, the bohemian mistress of  Rambaldo has her fortune told to her by her poet friend Prunier (Hal Cazalet) at a party in her salon . Told she will fly away and meet her true love, this awakens memories of past loves, and also a restlessness to be free, perhaps a personalised sentiment of the composer.

Magda embarks on an adventure to the clubs of Paris, meets Ruggero (Seán Ruane) and  runs off to the Riveria. The romantic escapade ends when Ruggero gets permission to marry Magda, and she feels she cannot be a virtuous wife after all. Ladner plays Magda with delicacy, having  good chemistry with her maid Lisette, an energetic Hye-Youn Lee.

Designer  Peter Rice  has created a salon  with muted colours matched with bohemian pinks and mauves. The contrasts go further to a raucous Paris nightscene complete with Ballet Russe-esque characters, and then finally to a dazzling seaside promenade at the Côte d'Azur.

Because of the time in which it was written,  La rondine seems  to be almost experimental. The work  starts abruptly, with the most memorable aria Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (One for Room with a View fans) arriving almost before you are ready.  The motif is  then repeated throughout the rest of the plot , without leaving the satisfaction that this device has in other works.  The piece shows Puccini could still write a beautiful aria,  but suggests that his greatest opera writing years were behind him.

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