Einarsdottir/Larmore/Spence/Philharmonia/Parry: Offenbach: Vert-Vert

Vert-Vert (1869) was written for the Opéra-Comique in Paris, a fact that goes a long way to explaining its problematic nature. The theatre prided itself on its conservatism, while Offenbach was essentially a subversive provocateur. The opera begins in territory worthy of Boccaccio: following the death of their eminently fondle-able parrot ­Vert-Vert, the girls at the convent school of Saint-Rémy decide they will take thick but sexy gardener's boy ­Valentin as their pet instead. The need to write a ­respectable show for a respectable opera house, however, means that ­potential ­bawdry is jettisoned in favour of a rather ­conventional fable in which Valentin is emotionally and morally torn between virtuous childhood sweetheart Mimi and wicked opera diva La Corilla. Even a performance as fine as this can't paper over the resulting inconsistencies of mood and character. Valentin is an ideal role for Toby Spence, who does ­corrupted innocence better than ­anyone. Thora Einarsdottir (Mimi) and Jennifer Larmore (La Corilla) are the women in his life. Conducting David Parry, meanwhile, just about makes sense of the score's tricky mix of ­bravado and sentiment.