TOSCA
Love, drama and death in Italian
Music
Giacomo Puccini
Libretto
Giuseppe Illica and Luigi Illica, after Victorien Sardou
Conductor
Daniele Callegari, Pietro Rizzo
Director
Knut Hendriksen
Set design
Björn Brusewitz
Costume design & make up
Ann-Mari Anttila
Lighting design
Hans-Åke Sjöquist
Language
Sung in Italian, with Swedish surtitles.
Running time
Approx. 3 hours 5 minutes including two intervals.
One of the opera world's most iconic pieces – TOSCA
The Royal Swedish Opera’s magnificent Tosca is based on the original setting and time period – Rome in the year 1800. Since it was first performed in 1900, Puccini’s Tosca remains one of the world’s most frequently performed operas. It is now back with two international leading stars, Christina Nilsson and Malin Byström, alternating in the leading role. Tosca is a must for both opera lovers and those who are new to opera – a work of passion, desire, betrayal and violent death.
The singer Tosca’s and her lover Cavardossi’s tragic destinies are played out against the background of a brutally dramatic, yet shimmeringly beautiful, score. Over 24 intense hours, we follow their love story to its disastrous conclusion, orchestrated by the cold-hearted chief of police, Scarpia.
What happens in Tosca
Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, rushes into the church of Sant’ Andrea della Valle. Mario Cavaradossi enters to work on his portrait of Mary Magdalene, resembling the woman he loves, singer Floria Tosca. Angelotti ventures out and is recognized by his friend and fellow liberal Mario, who gives him food and hurries him back into a chapel as Tosca is heard calling outside... READ FULL SYNOPSIS HERE »
Cast
Floria Tosca
Mario Cavaradossi
Baron Scarpia
Angelotti
A SACRISTAN
Spoletta
Sciarrone
A jailor
Conductor
Royal Swedish Opera Chorus
Royal Swedish Orchestra