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London 'Sweeney' fans have been fortunate in the last few years; they have had the opportunity of seeing David McVicar's searing production for Opera North brought to Sadler's Wells, Neil Armfield's Chicago staging at Covent Garden and a radically new realisation in which the actors also play instruments to accompany the drama – the latter I have not witnessed. I prefer the sound of Jonathan Tunick's original orchestration (devised alongside the composer) – richly realised in this semi-staging in the Royal Festival Hall.
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Other members of the company were strongly cast. The somewhat naïve depiction of Anthony by Daniel Boys (a contender in the BBC's Any Dream will Do competition to find the next Joseph for Andrew Lloyd Webber's show and new production) was most appropriate. His light tenor-ish voice was well-nigh-ideal, and he held his own effectively in ensemble, as well as expressively in his big apostrophe to Johanna. Philip Quast had the necessary darkness as the Judge – a pity, therefore, that his self-flagellation scene was omitted – and Steve Elias was a wheedling Beadle.
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