Live Satellite Screening From The Royal Opera House

Tosca is one of the great evenings of opera, and from its strident opening chords conjures up a world of political instability and menace.

“Tosca that’s as handsome as ever at the Royal Opera House, London.” Financial Times

Jonathan Kent’s production for The Royal Opera captures the dangerous political turbulence of Rome in 1800. The Chief of Police, Scarpia – one of the most malevolent villains in opera – ruthlessly pursues and tortures enemies of the state. His dark, demonic music contrasts with the expansive melodies of the idealistic lovers, Tosca and Cavaradossi, who express their passion in sublime arias, including ‘Vissi d’arte’ and ‘E lucevan le stelle’. Giacomo Puccini’s dramatic work was a hit with audiences on its 1900 premiere and it remains one of the most performed of all operas – with its gripping plot and glorious music, it’s easy to see why.

“Calleja impressed most with his two-minute showstopper, “E lucevan le stelle”. It’s a huge moment that tenors too often sing as a generalised lament, but the Maltese tenor delivered it like a story from his heart and made it the high point” What’s on Stage

“It is Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka’s first stab as Tosca in Britain and she’s certainly got the shrieks for it. Her dramatic acting was thrillingly sung and came from deep within the character’s psyche..” Whats on Stage

A candle-lit church, Scarpia’s gloomy study with its hidden torture chamber and the false optimism of a Roman dawn: this handsome production throws into relief the ruthlessly taut drama, as the tension is wound up towards a fateful conclusion. Puccini’s meticulously researched score is infused with the same authentic detail, from distant cannon fire during the Act I Te Deum to tolling church bells and the sounds of a firing squad.

“…lashings of brightness and colour to add to Puccini’s sweeping dynamic contours.” Bachtrack.com

“With Adrianne Pieczonka and Joseph Calleja very much playing up the flirtatious, happy side of Tosca and Cavaradossi’s relationship, the act flew by with immense verve, helped by a show-stealing performance by Jeremy White, the Royal Opera’s regular Sacristan, simultaneously figure of fun and dangerously fundamentalist cleric.” Bachtrack.com

3hrs 25mins approx

Sung in Italian with English Subtitles