The themes of political corruption, bullying and sexual exploitation make Toscaparticularly relevant to the present day with the election of Donald Trump and the growth of the #MeToo movement.

The third Act takes a more reflective tone with Rafael Rojas’s tormented aria as Cavaradossi awaits execution. The second Act is much more foreboding dominated by Robert Hayward’s malevolent villain and leading up to Giselle Allen delivering Tosca’s heart-rending declaration of her loss of faith. The contrasts are not just thematic with the opera offering strong roles for soprano, tenor and baritone.įor a tragedy, the score is misleading with Act One opening on a jaunty, skipping note, suitable for a comedy caper movie but concluding with a gorgeous spiritual Te Deum. The refined world of art clashes with the grim reality of political repression and pure love is balanced against perverse sexual domination. Tosca is a fascinating opera full of contrasts. The offer forces Tosca to question the fundamental precepts upon which she has lived her life and pushes her to extreme action. The brutal chief of police Baron Scarpia (baritone Robert Hayward) captures and tortures Cavaradossi and offers to free him on condition that Tosca becomes his lover. But when her lover Cavaradossi (tenor Rafael Rojas) gives aid to Angelotti (John Savournin) an escaped political prisoner, the lovers become involved in the grubby world of political corruption. Tosca (soprano Giselle Allen ) lives for her art and, as a devout Christian, performs charitable works. Well, stories do not come more melodramatic than the doomed love affair between the diva Tosca and the painter Cavaradossi. Opera is an art form that demands grand themes and high passion to be most effective.

Composer: Giacomo Puccini with Librettist Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Old tosca opera posters