Tosca

A political thriller, set in Rome in June 1800, Tosca tells a story of passionate, yet tender love, jealousy, betrayal, lust, and self-sacrifice. Tosca’s action takes place over a span of less than 24 hours during the Napoleonic wars and amidst great political unrest, making it one of the most dramatic thrill rides in opera.

The plot centers around three main characters: Rome’s diva Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi, and the corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia. Scarpia has long lusted after Tosca, and when he suspects Cavaradossi of assisting an escaped political prisoner, he seizes the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. He will manipulate Tosca into revealing the prisoner’s hiding place and Cavaradossi’s involvement, so he can have Tosca for himself.

When Cavaradossi is captured, Scarpia offers Tosca a horrific bargain – she must give herself to Scarpia, or her lover is killed. What will she choose, and who will survive?

PERFORMANCE DATES:

Phoenix – January 20 - 22, 2023 – Symphony Hall
Tucson – January 28 & 29, 2023 – The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Performed in Italian with English and Spanish supertitles

#azotosca
 

Estimated Running Time: 2 hours, 34 minutes with two intermissions: one 25-minute intermission and one 20-minute intermission
 

Part of the Arizona Opera Main Stage Series. Production made possible, in part, through generous support from Marlys A. Beider, Barbara Molotsky, and the Tucson Desert Song Festival.