Tosca at Göteborg Opera, Main Stage

Singer Floria Tosca is in love with idealistic artist Mario Cavaradossi. He is arrested by the ruthless chief of police, Scarpia – who desires Tosca. Unintentionally, she becomes the hub around which the men's destructive power struggle revolves. Puccini's action-filled love-triangle drama is adorned with a chain of arias, from Tosca's entreaty Vissi d’arte to Cavaradossi's emotional knockout E lucevan le stelle. Tosca is a red-hot opera, filled to the brim with love, jealousy, politics, murder, greed, passion and a longing to be free. All captured within achingly beautiful Puccini melodies. Italian-American director Lorenzo Mariani has set his Tosca in Italy in the 1930s, between the two world wars. We find ourselves in a dark, dramatic time imbued with oppression and suspicion. The stage design, costume and interpretation contain references to the Hollywood film noir era. The production, which premiered in autumn 2011, had an enthusiastic reception from critics and audience alike. This time, Tosca is interpreted by the house's own dramatic soprano, Annalena Persson. Pier Giorgio Morandi is responsible for ensuring that the music is given the right intensive Italian touch.