The Royal Opera
Jakub Hrůša
Music Director Designate
Oliver Mears
Director of Opera
Tosca
Melodramma in three Acts
Friday 6 December 2024 7.30pm
The 557th performance by The Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House.
Please note that casting is subject to change up until the start of the performance. Please continue to check the website for the most up-to-date information.
Approximate Timings
The performance lasts approximately 3 hours, including two intervals
Act I
50 minutes
Interval
25 minutes
Act II
45 minutes
Interval
25 minutes
Act III
35 minutes
Credits
- Music
Giacomo Puccini
- Libretto
Giuseppe Giacosa
Luigi Illica
- Conductor
Eun Sun Kim
- Director
Jonathan Kent
- Designer
Paul Brown
- Lighting designer
Mark Henderson
Cast
- Floria Tosca
Natalya Romaniw
replaces Sonya Yoncheva
- Mario Cavaradossi
SeokJong Baek
- Baron Scarpia
Bryn Terfel
- Spoletta
Aled Hall
- Cesare Angelotti
Ossian Huskinson
- Sacristan
Maurizio Muraro
- Sciarrone
Jamie Woollard
- Gaoler
John Morrissey
- Young Shepherd
Tharuni Kalavannan
- Actors
Harold Addo
Rain de Rye Barrett
Peter Benton
Barry Callan
Peter Cooney
Kris Dillon
Dana Myzer
Laurence Pasqualini
Jason Sabin
Daniel Swan
Ossian Huskinson and Jamie Woollard are Jette Parker Artists
Chorus and Orchestra
- Chorus
Royal Opera Chorus
- Chorus Director
William Spaulding
- Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Concert Master
Magnus Johnston
- Sopranos
Janet Fairlie
Celeste Gattai
Shafali Jalota
Vanessa Woodfine
- Mezzo-sopranos
Maria Brown
Siobhain Gibson
Clare McCaldin
Hyacinth Nicholls
Jennifer Westwood
- Tenors
Russell Ablewhite
Simon Biazeck
Elliot Goldie
Richard Reaville
Henry Strutt
- Basses
Oliver Gibbs
Gavin Horsley
Simon Preece
- Children’s chorus
Trinity School
- Musical Director of Trinity School
Nicholas Mulroy
Production credits
- Music preparation
Christopher Willis
Susanna Stranders
Mark Packwood
Nicholas Ansdell-Evans
José Salazar
Christopher Hopkins
- Assistant Director
Alicia Frost
- Language Coach
Alessandra Fasolo
José Salazar is a Jette Parker Artist
The Royal Opera
- Patron
HM The King
- Music Director Designate
Jakub Hrůša
- Director of Opera
Oliver Mears
- Director of Casting
Peter Mario Katona
- Associate Director
Netia Jones
- Administrative Director
Cormac Simms
Synopsis
ACT I
Cesare Angelotti, a Consul of the former Roman Republic, has escaped prison and seeks refuge in the Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle. The painter Mario Cavaradossi, a Republican sympathizer working in the church, promises to help him. Angelotti hides as Cavaradossi’s lover Floria Tosca arrives. The lovers’ meeting reveals Tosca’s passionate love and jealousy. When Tosca has gone, Cavaradossi instructs Angelotti to dress in the disguise left for him, and hide at Cavaradossi’s villa. Chief of Police Baron Scarpia arrives at the church. He suspects Cavaradossi of hiding Angelotti. When Tosca returns, Scarpia uses a fan left by Angelotti to make her believe that Cavaradossi is having an affair. Tosca leaves for Cavaradossi’s villa, and Scarpia instructs his assistant Spoletta to follow her and track down Angelotti.
INTERVALACT II
Scarpia has arrested Cavaradossi. He summons Tosca to his apartment, and forces her to listen as Cavaradossi is tortured in the next room. Tosca reveals Angelotti’s hiding place. Scarpia condemns Cavaradossi to death but tells Tosca that he will free her lover if she will offer herself to him. In agony, Tosca agrees and Scarpia tells her he will arrange a mock execution. As Scarpia embraces Tosca, she fatally stabs him.
INTERVALACT III
As dawn approaches, Cavaradossi waits for his execution at the top of the Castel Sant’Angelo. Tosca arrives and tells him what she has done. She instructs him on how to pretend to die in the mock execution. When the soldiers shoot, Tosca is impressed with her lover’s acting. But Scarpia has double-crossed her and Cavaradossi really is dead. As Spoletta’s men arrive to arrest her for Scarpia’s murder, she leaps from the battlements to her death.
Guidance
Suitable for ages 12+
This production contains depictions of violence, sexual assault, implied torture and suicide. There are gunshots in Act III.
Language
Sung in Italian with English surtitles. Captions and translations in English will be displayed on screens above the stage and around the auditorium.
Generous support from
Exceptional philanthropic support from Royal Opera House Principal Julia Rausing Trust
With the generous support of Aline Floriel-Destezet Season Principal
Generous philanthropic support from Aud Jebsen, Sandra and Anthony Gutman, Alan and Caroline Howard and Ms Shawn M Donnelley and Professor Christopher M Kelly
Production generously supported by Rolex
Further information
DIGITAL CAST SHEETS
We are working hard on our commitment towards becoming more sustainable and are striving for our net zero goal of 2035. By using digital cast sheets and e-tickets, we have reduced our paper consumption by over five tonnes per year. You can view our digital cast sheets on a computer, tablet or smartphone by scanning the QR codes displayed around the building using your smartphone’s camera app. They are also displayed on screens outside the auditoria. Cast sheets are generously supported by the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund.
GUIDELINES
Photography and filming are prohibited during performances in any of our auditoriums. You are welcome to take pictures throughout the rest of the building and before performances and share them with us through social media. Commercial photography and filming must be agreed in advance with our press team.
Larger bags and backpacks need to be check into our complimentary cloakrooms. Unattended bags may be removed.
Please do not place any personal belongings on the ledges in front of you. Mobile phones should be turned off and stored away safely during performances.
Only bottled water and ice cream purchased from the premises can be taken into the auditorium.
If you arrive late to the auditorium or leave during a performance, you will not be allowed back to your seat until the interval or a suitable break.
Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the premises.
The safety of our visitors, staff and artists is our priority. To help us provide a comfortable experience for everyone, please be mindful of others and their personal space.
Our staff are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect and we ask that you show them and your fellow audience members respect too. We adopt a zero-tolerance approach in response to anyone who interacts with our staff or with fellow audience members in an intimidating, aggressive or threatening manner.
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For people, not profit.
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