Opera New Hampshire to Present Puccini's Tosca, Conducted by Jason C. Tramm

Ever since Tosca, Puccini's "shabby little shocker," premiered at Rome's Teatro Costanizi on January 14, 1900 critics have decided the work, yet begged the question - what gives Tosca its universal appeal?

Jason C. Tramm - who conducts Opera New Hampshire's lush production of Tosca on October 14th at the Palace Theatre is quick to reply, "To understand why, you must listen with your head and your heart." Though written over a century ago the music is timeless, vividly cinematic. Tramm explained that Tosca's immediate success with audiences has existed in sharp contrast to critics who have historically taken issue with Tosca's violent and macabre subject matter of murder, torture, and suicide. Additionally Puccini, Verdi's operatic heir apparent, wrote a score which was a frank departure from what was perceived to be the Italianate musical structure. Instead of harkening back to earlier Verdi masterworks, Tosca reflected a brilliant and original synthesis of the German symphonic tradition, French harmonic and orchestration traditions, and the Wagnerian leitmotif (musical phrases used to identify characters and ideas). Consequently, Puccini was perceived to be "international" rather than Italian. "The music and ideas of Tosca literally ushered in the 20th century, anticipating global cultural themes that would inspire artists and define the coming decades, said Tramm. "Critics actually used Tosca's character and Puccini's dramatic sympathy for women against him as a serious artist."

Opera New Hampshire's lavish production of Tosca is designed and directed by Giorgio Lalov. Unlike recent productions of Tosca that eliminated pivotal actions in the opera and brought boos to the famed Metropolitan Opera House - Giorgio Lalov stays true to the original intent of the composer and the playwright Victorien Sardou whose play 1887 "La Tosca" (staring the great Sarah Bernhardt in the title role) inspired Puccini's opera. Of Lalov's work, Richard Dyer of OPERA NEWS writes "The physical productions and Lalov's staging were reassuringly traditional. Lalov's staging tells the story clearly... Something personal and passionate that is often missing from other evenings of opera."

Opera New Hampshire's lavish and traditionally interpreted production features an all-American orchestra and chorus with an international cast of soloists under the baton of Jason Tramm. The production's leading roles are sung by soprano Rosa D'Imperio as Floria Tosca; tenor Benjamin Sloman as Mario Cavaradossi and baritone Jose Sacin as Baron Scarpia. Also featured are bass Stephan Kirchgraber as Ceasare Angelotti; tenor Augustine Glazov as Spoletta, baritone Stefanos Koroneos as the Sacristan; bass Devon McGuire as the jailer, bass Vladimir Hrisov as Sciarrone and tenor Chad Navarro as the Shepherd Boy.

Opera New Hampshire's Floria Tosca, soprano Rosa D'Imperio has been praised by Opera News, Mannheimer Morgen, Tampa Bay Times and New York Newsday for her "agile and gleaming tone", her "effortless dramatic soprano", her "big, red-blooded Italianate voice" and for her "impressive dramatic communication." A finalist winner of the George London Foundation, a winner of the Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation and a winner of the Friedrich Schorr's "The American Prize, 2015 Women in Opera" Ms. D'Imperio's leading soprano roles have included in ATTILA, IL TROVATORE, OBERTO, AIDA, OTELLO, TOSCA, MANON LESCAUT, IL TABARRO, CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, ANDREA CHENIER, DIE ÄGYPTISCHE HELENA, LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN, LA BOHEME, ADRIANA LECOUVREUR, BEETHOVEN'S NINTH SYMPHONY, ROSSINI'S STABAT MATER with notable opera companies and symphony orchestras around the world - Hamburger Symphoniker, Philharmonie Baden-Baden, Orchestre Nationale Ile de France, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim, Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Krakow Symphony Orchestra, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra; and in performance featured in Theatre An Der Wien, Dvorak Hall and Carnegie Hall singing masterpieces such as the VERDI REQUIEM, BEETHOVEN'S 9TH, ROSSINI'S STABAT MATER, BACH'S MAGNIFICAT

Conductor Jason C. Tramm's work in the symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire has received acclaim both nationally and internationally. Noted productions under his baton include a world premiere of the Gershwin's Porgy and Bess in Tirana, Albania; the MidAtlantic Opera Company's inaugural production of Verdi's Rigoletto in 2014 and their mainstage production "Verdiana" in honor of the Verdi Bicentennial. As Artistic Director of the New Jersey State Opera from 2008-2012, Tramm's performances included the 75th anniversary production of the Gershwin's Porgy and Bess at Newark's Symphony Hall and the 2009 HDTV broadcast presentation with PBS affiliate NJN, of "Verdi Requiem: Live from Ocean Grove which garnered a regional Emmy Award nomination. Since 2006 Tramm has held the position of Director of Music Ministries for the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, where he conducts both sacred and secular works. National broadcasts from the historic 6,500 seat Great Auditorium, home to the magnificent Hope - Jones Organ have included Léon Boëllmann's Fantasie-Dialogue for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 35 with Gordon Turk, organ; Rittenhouse Orchestra and Alexandre Guilmant's Symphony Number 1 in d for Organ and Orchestra presented by American Public Media's classical music show "Pipe Dreams", aired locally on New York's classical music station WQXR. Tramm also serves as Artistic Advisor for the NJ based Adelphi Orchestra.

In 2015 Tramm made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in "A Prayer for Peace" featuring the works of Behzad Ranjbaran (Elegy for Cello and Strings), Leonard Bernstein (Chichester Psalms), Vaughan Williams (Dona Nobis Pacem) and Adnan Saygun (Selections from Yunis Emre). He returns to NYC in March of 2017 to conduct the second concert of the Prayer for Peace trilogy at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. An accomplished educator, Tramm serves on the faculty at Seton Hall University as Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities, College of Communication and the Arts where he leads the University Choir, Chamber Choir, Orchestra, and teaches voice and conducting. On November 16th Tramm will conduct a concert version of Tosca at SOPAC in New Jersey.

Opera New Hampshire presents

Tosca by Giacomo Puccini

October 14 at 7PM

Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St, Manchester, NH

Tickets $20 -$75

The Palace Theatre box office: 603-668-5588.
Tickets may be purchased online www.palacetheatretickets.org