…Gilfry turned to quiet, insidious tones that carried their own threatening aura, playing off against the force of his outbursts. Gilfry’s Scarpia sneered as he made fun of lovers’ moonlight escapades, and he brought a butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-his-mouth chill to the moments when he pretended to play nice. In a final, non-singing touch of theatricality, Gilfry’s dying Scarpia let out a death rattle as he expired—perhaps answering Tosca’s question about whether he’s choking on his own blood.
https://texasclassicalreview.com/2023/04/22/wilson-makes-hgos-tosca-a-blazing-vocal-feast/
Suave and reptilian, Rod Gilfry — also making his role debut — comes off cucumber-cool until his commanding baritone boils over with frustration and rage. His Scarpia is far from sympathetic, but Gilfry’s charismatic performance has the unsettling effect of superimposing the heroic public servant he could have been with the poisonous creep he turned out to be.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/classical/article/houston-grand-opera-tosca-17915994.php
Baritone Rod Gilfry, as Scarpia, the libidinous head of Rome's police, is gruff and sexy, a lively foil to the jealous Tosca and passionate Cavaradossi.… It's a picture of absolute debauchery. At the close of the first act, his “Va, Tosca” (“Go, Tosca”) ironically paired with a gloriously religious “Te Deum,” captures his unbridled lust set against the august church processional. Puccini at his best.
https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/review-tosca-at-houston-grand-opera-15537172
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