Tosca at Sydney Opera House

ohn Bell directs a stark, monumental staging of Puccini’s riveting drama of love, jealousy and sacrifice set in Mussolini’s Italy in the 1940s. Two true divas will share the title role, Takesha Meshé Kizart and Cheryl Barker.

Puccini was a true theatre composer, using every means available to move the emotions of an audience. His aim was dramatic truth.

The sweep and flow of the music propels Tosca’s riveting drama of love, jealousy and sacrifice with astonishing vigour and force. And who better to direct an intimate actor’s piece but the distinguished actor/director John Bell, the artistic director of Bell Shakespeare. He has joined forces with award-winning set designer Michael Scott-Mitchell and the young, emerging costume designer Teresa Negroponte to create a stark, monumental staging set in Mussolini’s Italy in the 1940s.

Puccini’s irresistible score features the unforgettable aria, ‘Vissi d’arte’, a moment of heart-breaking poignancy in a plot where Floria Tosca and Cavaradossi are embroiled in an attempt to help a friend escape from prison. The chief of police in Rome, Baron Scarpia, is himself the perpetrator of worse crimes than those he has officially to deal with.

Two true divas will share the title role, Takesha Meshé Kizart and Cheryl Barker. They are joined by the sensational tenors Yonghoon Lee and Diego Torre – while the breathtaking baritone John Wegner plays Scarpia in the legendary love triangle. Christian Badea conducts.