Tosca reviews: what the critics say about ENO's new production

The reviews are in for English National Opera's new production of Tosca at the London Coliseum, and the critics are divided. Annilese Miskimmon directs Puccini's thriller in English, with Axelle Fanyo making her ENO debut in the title role, Christopher Purves as Scarpia and Chaz'men Williams-Ali as Cavaradossi. Ben Glassberg conducts, and the run continues until 11 December 2026. See dates and tickets for Tosca at the London Coliseum.

In this article: Tosca, English National Opera, London Coliseum, Axelle Fanyo, Christopher Purves, Chaz'men Williams-Ali, Ben Glassberg, Annilese Miskimmon, review roundup, opera.

The production opened on Friday 30 October, moving the action from Rome to a concert hall in an unnamed state where music itself is under threat.

The star ratings at a glance

• musicOMH, Keith McDonnell: ★★

The Telegraph, the Guardian, Bachtrack, BroadwayWorld and Theatre Weekly also reviewed the production. We have not listed star ratings for them because none was shown on the pages we checked.

The warmest notices

Stephen Gilchrist was the most enthusiastic critic in Theatre Weekly, calling it "a brilliantly reimagined production" and adding that "as ‘a thriller’ it delivers with punch, power and performances that must rank it among the great Toscas".

In the Telegraph, Nicholas Kenyon found the staging busy but the opera unbowed, writing that "Puccini’s music is made of stronger stuff, and escapes unharmed".

Axelle Fanyo in the title role

Fanyo drew some of the strongest praise in the reviews. Kenyon described "the stunning, charismatic Tosca of Axelle Fanyo" in the Telegraph, while Flora Willson in the Guardian admired her "beauty of tone in the title role".

Gary Naylor in BroadwayWorld wrote that her "Vissi d'arte" "has seldom been more clearly justified", and Keith McDonnell in musicOMH said the aria "was sensitively delivered and provided one of the evening’s more satisfying vocal moments".

Christopher Purves as Scarpia

The Guardian was clear on the villain: "Christopher Purves was a terrific, brutish Scarpia", wrote Willson, concluding that "Purves’s Scarpia just might be" a vintage one. In the Telegraph, Kenyon wrote that "A perfect foil for her naivety is Christopher Purves’s wily Scarpia".

McDonnell was less convinced, finding that the role debut "proved disappointing".

Ben Glassberg and the ENO Orchestra

If there was one point of agreement, it was the playing in the pit. Kenyon praised "the ENO Orchestra on superlative form", concluding that "the pounding, passionate score emerges as the unchallenged victor of the evening". McDonnell wrote that "Ben Glassberg’s superb conducting was the saving grace", and Willson noted "the sheer musical sumptuousness generated by the ENO orchestra under Ben Glassberg".

The critics with reservations

The concept split opinion. McDonnell's headline in musicOMH called the evening "a spectacular misfire", and Mark Pullinger headed his Bachtrack review "A village hall Tosca". Naylor felt that "the production is just too unanchored to succeed", and Willson opened her verdict with "This is not, I’m afraid, a vintage Tosca".

Booking Tosca

Tosca plays at the London Coliseum until 11 December 2026, sung in English. With critics agreed on the singing of Fanyo and the playing in the pit, this is a chance to make up your own mind about the staging. Book tickets for Tosca at the London Coliseum.

Header image: English National Opera