Connecticut Lyric Opera (CLO) is pleased to announce the final production of its 2010-2011 performance season, one of Puccini’s greatest works, Tosca. Combining sumptuous music and sensational action, Tosca has thrilled audiences worldwide for more than a century and will be performed during this production run in New Britain (May 13), New London (May 15), Waterbury (May 20) and Middletown (May 21).
The story pits the villainous Rome police chief Scarpia against liberal artist Mario Cavaradossi – who is protecting an escaped political prisoner – and Cavaradossi’s inamorata Floria Tosca, whom Scarpia lusts after. The action comes to a head when Scarpia offers Tosca this bargain: her lover’s life for one night of passion with him. Says stage director Stephen Fried about Tosca:
I think that there are very few operas in which you so viscerally feel each character’s needs pounding through the score and driving each moment as actively as you do in Tosca. It’s a spectacularly well-configured drama, and if done properly, I believe can result in a thrilling, gripping, suspenseful evening of opera.
Furthermore, the characters are so richly crafted and exciting to get to know. In particular, in Floria Tosca, we see the quintessential diva — while stunningly beautiful and a master of her art, she is simultaneously demanding, jealous, loving and accusatory. In her, Puccini gives us a wonderfully rich portrait of an artistic soul who we should fall madly in love with, and I am incredibly excited to work with Jurate in crafting one of opera’s most vibrant and compelling heroines.
CLO’s stellar cast includes as the diva Tosca, Jurate Svedaite, the star soprano of many CLO productions; tenor John Tsotsoros, as Cavaradossi, Rodolfo in CLO’s 2007 La bohème; and baritone Luke Scott as Scarpia, who shone in the title role of CLO’s Gianni Schicchi last season. Rounding out the cast are Romanian bass-baritone Laurentiu Rotaru as the escapee Angelotti, rising young baritone Matthew Gamble as the Sacristan and tenor Daniel Juárez as Scarpia’s henchman Spoletta. Making his debut with CLO as stage director is the acclaimed director Stephen Fried, whose vast experience with Shakespeare and classic drama provides an excellent basis for this gripping drama. Finally, as always, CLO Artistic Director, maestro Adrian Sylveen will lead the outstanding Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra (CVCO) in this production that is fully staged with a twenty-voice chorus and English supertitle translations above the stage.
Tosca is co-produced with CLO’s resident orchestra, the CVCO, and will be premiered at Trinity-on-Main Arts Center, New Britain on May 13 at 8pm and repeated on May 15 at 3pm at the Garde Arts Center, New London; on May 20 at 8:00pm at the Palace Theater, Waterbury; and on May 21 at 7:30 pm at Middletown High School Arts Center.