Even more fully-shaped and masterfully depicted was the Scarpia of Michael Chioldi, a favorite with this company – and justly so. Chioldi is the complete artist: a genuine singing actor with a large gorgeous baritone sound, expert musicianship and stage savvy that makes every one of his portrayals a believable human being. In this case, the “human” element was appropriately lacking. Chioldi’s Scarpia was the personification of evil, stentorian in sound but also subtly nuanced and quite terrifying.