★★★☆☆ Alagna and Stagg are stellar, but staging, lighting and programme raise concerns.

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
July 21, 2016

I’d expected more from this concert. In fact, more opera for a start, for Roberto Alagna is one of the world’s top opera tenors. However, the bulk of the evening’s programme was Neapolitan song, and for me (and splendid though the better ones are) a little goes a long way. Happily for the audience, it was all just fine, as they cheered and clapped along with the more boisterous numbers and cooed dreamily elsewhere.

Alagna’s singing was generous and full-throated, with thrilling top notes. He sings songs such as Santa Lucia and Finiculi Funiculà, to the manner born. (Luigi Denza wrote the famous song for the opening of the Naples funicular railway in 1880.) The operatic content was excellent, with Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg well matched with Alagna. Her solo items were among the best things of the night. From a moving O mio babbino caro by Puccini, to a dazzling Non ti Scordar di me by Ernesto de Curtis.

Siobhan Stagg © WinkiPoP Media

The pickup band was uneven, though with excellent...