Buff nude sex scenes. Steamy homoerotic clinches. Comical cross-dressing... When you see student productions this good, you know the future of opera is assured. Oh yes - and there's some great singing, too.
Director Paul Curran sets his production of Monteverdi's serious-comic masterpiece (translated as The Coronation Of Poppea) in glamorous 1930s Hollywood costumes, in a location vaguely resembling Buckingham Palace. Crucially, Curran also knows when to let the gags drop and crank up the emotional voltage.
He draws some brilliant performances from his young singers (the production is double-cast: this cast appears again on Friday). Fresh-voiced Sophie Bevan (pictured) is delightful as the scheming minx Poppea, and Nathan Vale combines an assured stage presence with an impressively varied vocal palette as her eventual husband Nero.
Eliana Pretorian also brings tremendous style and energy to the double role of Amor and randy pageboy Valletto. The period-instrument orchestra could do with a few more lessons in tuning but Michael Rosewell's conducting generally matches the vigour of his stunning cast.
Tonight and Fri, Royal College Of Music, Prince Consort Road SW7, 7pm, £5 to £25 (limited availability). Tel 020 7591 4314. www.rcm.ac.uk Tube: South Kensington
The Coronation of Poppea
Royal College Of Physicians Of London Heritage Centre
St. Andrews Place, NW1 4LE
