Tosca

Giacomo Puccini

Melodrama in three acts
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
after Victorien Sardou

From 15. December 2022 until 4. January 2023

  • Duration :
    2 H. 30 Min. Inkl. Pause after 1st part after approx. 55 Min.
  • Language:
    In Italian with German and English surtitles.
  • More information:
    Introduction 45 min before the performance.

Music Direction:
Gianandrea Noseda

Gianandrea Noseda

Gianandrea Noseda has been General Music Director of the Opernhaus Zurich since the 2021/22 season. He is also Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, D. C.)  and Principal Guest Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. In 2019 he became the founding Music Director of the Tsinandali Festival and Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra in the village of Tsinandali, Georgia. Noseda’s leadership as Music Director of the Teatro Regio Torino from 2007–2018 transformed the opera house resulting in internationally acclaimed productions, tours, and recordings. Noseda has conducted the most important international orchestras (Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Concergetbouw Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic), opera houses (La Scala, Metropolitan Opera and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden) and festivals (BBC Proms, Edinburgh, Salzburg and Verbier). He has had significant roles at the BBC Philharmonic (Chief Conductor), Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (Principal Guest Conductor), Mariinsky Theatre (Principal Guest Conductor), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Victor de Sabata Chair), Rotterdam Philharmonic (Principal Guest Conductor) and Stresa Festival (Artistic Director). Gianandrea Noseda’s discography comprises more than 70 CDs; notable among them is the «Musica Italiana» Project, in which Noseda documents neglected Italian repertoire of the 20th century. Born in Milan, Noseda holds the honor of Commendatore al Merito della Repubblica Italiana. He was honored as Musical America’s Conductor of the Year in 2015 and named Conductor of the Year by the International Opera Awards in 2016.

Un ballo in Maschera22 / 28 / 31 May / 7 / 13 Jun 2026 La forza del destino2 / 7 / 12 / 15 / 18 / 21 / 26 / 29 Nov / 17 / 21 Dec 2025 Macbeth8 / 11 / 14 / 19 / 22 / 30 Nov 2025 Ehnes & Noseda23 Nov 2025 Concert Kinderopernorchester­concert25 May 2026 Open-Air-Concert28 Jun 2026 Mühlemann & Noseda21 Mar 2026
Director:
Robert Carsen

Robert Carsen

Robert Carsen, geboren in Kanada, absolvierte eine Ausbildung als Schauspieler an der York University in Toronto und an der Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Erste Erfolge als Regisseur hatte er Mitte der achtziger Jahre an den Opernhäusern in Genf und Paris, wo Intendant Hugues Gall ihn förderte. International Furore machten Anfang der neunziger Jahre seine Puccini- und Janáček-Zyklen in Antwerpen. Es folgten Arbeiten an allen grossen Bühnen der Welt. Seine Opernproduktionen umfassen Dialogues des Carmélites (Amsterdam, La Scala, Royal Opera, u.a.), Manon Lescaut (Wiener Staatsoper), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Aix), Rusalka, Tannhäuser u.a. (Paris), Don Giovanni (Mailand), Falstaff, Der Rosenkavalier (Royal Opera, MET u.a.), The Turn of the Screw, Agrippina, Wozzeck u.a. (Theater an der Wien), Rinaldo, L’incoronazione di Poppea (Glyndebourne), La traviata (Venedig), Der Ring des Nibelungen (Köln, Barcelona, u.a.), Siegfried und Idomeneo (Madrid), Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno (Salzburger Festspiele), Die tote Stadt (Komische Oper Berlin) sowie Oceane von Detlef Glanert (Deutsche Oper Berlin). Zudem inszeniert er Theater und Musicals: My Fair Lady, Singin’ in the Rain (Théâtre du Châtelet, Mariinsky Theatre, Chicago u.a.) und wirkte als Kurator und Szenograph für Ausstellungen u.a. im Grand Palais und im Musée d’Orsay, an der Royal Academy of Arts sowie am Art Institute of Chicago. Er ist Officier des Arts et des Lettres und Officer of the Order of Canada. Zudem erhielt er zahlreiche Preise, zuletzt den International Opera Award 2021 als «Bester Regisseur». In Zürich inszenierte er Lucia di Lammermoor, Tosca, Semele, Pique Dame, Hänsel und Gretel und Arabella.

Tosca28 Sept / 2 / 8 / 11 / 15 / 19 Oct 2025 Arabella14 / 18 / 22 / 25 / 28 Apr 2026
Stage and costume design:
Anthony Ward
Associate set designer:
Alexander Lowde
Lighting designer:
Davy Cunningham
Chorus Master:
Ernst Raffelsberger

Ernst Raffelsberger

Ernst Raffelsberger stammt aus Gmunden, Oberösterreich. Er studierte Musikpädagogik und Kirchenmusik an der Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Wien (Chorleitung bei Prof. Erwin Ortner) und anschliessend Chordirigieren am Salzburger Mozarteum bei Prof. Walter Hagen-Groll. Von 1983 bis 1986 war er Kapellmeister der Wiener Sängerknaben. In dieser Zeit leitete er das Ensemble in Wien und auf Tourneen durch Europa, Südafrika, Kanada und die USA. Ab 1986 war Ernst Raffelsberger Chordirektor und Kapellmeister am Landestheater Salzburg (Mitwirkung bei der Salzburger Mozartwoche und den Salzburger Festspielen). 1989 wurde er von Donald Runnicles als Chordirektor und Kapellmeister an das Theater in Freiburg/Breisgau berufen. Seit Herbst 1993 ist Ernst Raffelsberger am Opernhaus Zürich als Chordirektor engagiert. Hier hat er inzwischen über 100 Premieren betreut und mit vielen namhaften Dirigenten wie Riccardo Chailly, Christoph von Dohnányi, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Daniele Gatti, Bernard Haitink, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Zubin Mehta und Franz Welser-Möst zusammengearbeitet. Gastspiele mit dem Opernhaus Zürich führten ihn nach Wien, London, Paris und Tokio. Zahlreiche CD- und DVD-Aufnahmen dokumentieren diese Arbeit. Im Sommer 2012 begann zusätzlich seine Tätigkeit als Chordirektor der Salzburger Festspiele. Er ist dort für die Produktionen der Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor verantwortlich. In seiner ersten Festspielsaison kam es u. a. zu einer erfolgreichen Zusammenarbeit mit Riccardo Muti und Sir Simon Rattle.

Manon24 / 27 Sept / 3 / 7 / 10 Oct 2025 Tosca28 Sept / 2 / 8 / 11 / 15 / 19 Oct 2025 La clemenza di Tito26 / 29 Apr / 3 / 8 / 15 / 17 / 20 / 25 May 2026 Le nozze di Figaro24 / 29 Jan / 1 / 5 / 7 / 10 / 14 Feb 2026 Die Fledermaus7 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 18 / 26 / 28 / 31 Dec 2025 / 2 / 4 / 6 / 10 Jan 2026 Messa da Requiem20 / 22 / 28 Feb / 1 / 5 / 7 Mar / 6 Apr 2026 Arabella14 / 18 / 22 / 25 / 28 Apr 2026

Cast


Floria Tosca Sondra Radvanovsky


Mario Cavaradossi Jonas Kaufmann 15, 17 Dec


Mario Cavaradossi Vittorio Grigolo 20 Dec


Mario Cavaradossi Yusif Eyvazov


Baron Scarpia Bryn Terfel


Cesare Angelotti Brent Michael Smith


Mesner Valeriy Murga


Spoletta Martin Zysset


Un carceriere Benjamin Molonfalean

Sondra Radvanovsky

Sondra Radvanovsky wurde bei Chicago/Illinois geboren. Nach einer Ausbildung im Lindemann Young Artist Development Program der Metropolitan Opera in New York gelang ihr der Durchbruch mit Antonia (Les Contes d’Hoffmann). Seither ist sie an den renommiertesten Opernhäusern zu Gast. Zu ihrem Repertoire gehören Verdis Titelrollen von Aida und Luisa Miller, Elvira (Ernani), Elena (I vespri siciliani), Elisabeth de Valois (Don Carlo), Amelia (Simon Boccanegra), Lina (Stiffelio), Roxanne (Cyrano de Bergerac) sowie die Titelrollen von Rusalka, Tosca, Lucrezia Borgia und Manon Lescaut. In ihrer Konzerttätigkeit arbeitete sie u.a. mit dem Boston Symphony Orchestra und dem Verbier Festival Orchester unter James Levine, mit dem Chicago Symphony Orchestra unter David Zinman, mit dem San Francisco Symphony Orchestra unter James Conlon sowie mit dem Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper unter Zubin Mehta. Ihre Diskografie umfasst u.a. eine CD mit Verdi-Arien sowie Aufnahmen von Szenen aus Verdis Opern mit Dmitri Hvorostovsky. In der Spielzeit 2021/22 sang sie ihr Rollendebüt als Lady Macbeth (Macbeth) an der Lyric Opera of Chicago, Tosca an der Met in New York sowie Lisa (Pique Dame) am Gran Theatre del Liceu. Zudem interpretierte sie Amelia (Un ballo in maschera) an der Scala in Mailand. Unter Antonio Pappano gab sie ausserdem ihr Rollendebüt als Turandot an der Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Die Spielzeit 2022/23 führte sie u.a. als Médée nach New York und Budapest, als Tosca nach Zürich, Barcelona und Berlin sowie als Lady Macbeth nach Barcelona, Neapel und Chicago.

Jonas Kaufmann

The tenor Jonas Kaufmann, born in Munich, studied singing at the Hochschule für Musik in his hometown. After engagements in Saarbrücken, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Milan, he joined the Zurich Opera House in 2001. From there, his international career took off with performances at the Lyric Opera Chicago, the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, the Deutsche Oper and Staatsoper in Berlin, the Vienna State Opera, as well as the Salzburg and Bayreuth festivals. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 2006. His diverse repertoire includes Italian, French, and German roles. He is active as an opera, concert, and lieder singer. He sang Verdi’s Otello in London and Munich, Massenet’s Werther in Paris, Vienna, and New York, Wagner’s Lohengrin at Bayreuth, La Scala, and Paris. He has a close collaboration with Helmut Deutsch, with whom he performed the first solo recital at the Met after Luciano Pavarotti (1994) in 2011. Many of his recordings have won awards such as the Gramophone Award. Additionally, he has been repeatedly named “Singer of the Year” by, among others, the specialist magazine Opernwelt, the classical magazine Diapason, and the juries of the International Opera Awards and ECHO Klassik. In 2013, he was appointed “Bavarian Kammersänger,” received the Bambi Award in the “Classical Music” category in 2014, the Premio Puccini in 2015, the Federal Cross of Merit in 2016, the “Officier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres” in 2018, and the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art.

Tosca28 Sept / 2 / 8 / 11 / 15 / 19 Oct 2025

Vittorio Grigolo

Vittorio Grigolo wurde in Arezzo geboren und verbrachte seine Kindheit in Rom. Als einer der führenden Tenöre seiner Generation sang er an den renommiertesten Opernhäusern der Welt wie dem Teatro alla Scala, dem Royal Opera House, der Metropolitan Opera, der Washington National Opera, der Deutschen Oper Berlin, der Berliner Staatsoper und dem Opernhaus Zürich unter Dirigenten wie Riccardo Chailly, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Chung Myung-Whun, Gustavo Dudamel, Attonio Pappano und Lorin Maazel. Sein Repertoire umfasst Opern von Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, Gounod, Massenet, Offenbach, Bernstein und geistliche Werke von Rossini. Jüngste Engagements beinhalten u.a. die Titelrollen in Roméo et Juliette, Manon, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, La bohème, Lucia di Lammermoor und L’elisir d’amore. 2013 sang er bei einem Konzert unter dem Eiffelturm am französischen Nationalfeiertag vor mehr als achthunderttausend Menschen. Er erhielt Auszeichnungen für sein Debüt-Album, eine Grammy Nominierung für eine Einspielung der West Side Story und hatte viel Erfolg mit Alben wie The Italian Tenor, Arrivederci, Ave Maria und The Romantic Hero. Zudem sang er 2010, neben Plácido Domingo, den Herzog von Mantua in einer weltweit ausgestrahlten Fernsehaufzeichnung von Rigoletto aus Mantua. Er wurde mit mehreren Preisen ausgezeichnet, darunter der «European Border Breakers Award« für sein Solo-Album In the Hands of Love und 2010 mit dem Diapason D’Or als «Entdeckung des Jahres» mit seinem Album The Italian Tenor. 2011 erhielt er den «Echo Klassik» als Newcomer des Jahres.

Yusif Eyvazov

Yusif Eyvazov is a native of Azerbaijan and studied in his hometown of Baku and in Italy. He regularly appears at the world’s most prestigious opera houses and festivals, including the Royal Opera House in London, the state operas of Munich, Berlin, and Vienna, La Scala in Milan, the Opéra National de Paris, Teatro Real in Madrid, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Arena di Verona, and the Salzburg Festival. His repertoire includes roles such as Alfredo (“La traviata”), Manrico (“Il trovatore”), Riccardo (“Un ballo in maschera”), Duca di Mantova (“Rigoletto”), Don Alvaro (“La forza del destino”), Radamès (“Aida”), Don Carlo, Des Grieux (“Manon Lescaut”), Rodolfo (“La bohème”), Cavaradossi (“Tosca”), Dick Johnson (“La fanciulla del West”), Calaf (“Turandot”), Hermann (“The Queen of Spades”), Maurice (“Adriana Lecouvreur”), and the title role in “Andrea Chénier.” His discography includes a live recording of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” from the Salzburg Festival and the album “Romanza” with Anna Netrebko. In 2017, he was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Azerbaijan. Most recently, he has appeared as Otello at Teatro Massimo in Palermo, as Cavaradossi at Teatro dell’Opera in Rome, as Alfredo at the Royal Opera House Muscat, as Manrico at the Berlin State Opera, as Hermann at the Vienna State Opera, as Don José and Radamès at the Arena di Verona, and in numerous concerts with Anna Netrebko in cities such as Sofia, Budapest, Paris, Vienna, and Istanbul.

La forza del destino2 / 7 / 12 / 15 / 18 Nov 2025

Bryn Terfel

Bryn Terfel, a bass-baritone from Wales, won the Lieder Prize at the International Singing Competition Cardiff in 1989. Since then, he has performed at all the world’s major opera houses. His roles include Méphistophélès in Faust, the title role and Leporello in Don Giovanni, Jochanaan in Salome, the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress, Wolfram in Tannhäuser, and Balstrode in Peter Grimes. He also sang in the critically acclaimed production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Welsh National Opera, Wotan in the Ring Cycle at the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera, as well as Sweeney Todd at the English National Opera. His recent performances include Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Balstrode at the Vienna State Opera and the Royal Opera House, the Dutchman at Grange Park Opera, Falstaff at the Zurich Opera and the Bavarian State Opera, Scarpia at the Zurich Opera and the Opéra National de Paris, Don Pasquale at the Royal Opera House, and Boris Godunov at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Royal Opera House. He is also a versatile concert singer, having performed at the BBC Proms, given lieder recitals in all the world’s major cities, and directed his own festival in Faenol, North Wales, for nine years. His discography includes operas by Mozart, Wagner, and Strauss, as well as over fifteen solo albums, and he has been awarded the Grammy, the Classical Brit, and the Gramophone Award. In 2003, he was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his musical achievements, received the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2006, was knighted in 2017, honored with the title of “Austrian Kammersänger” for his services to the Vienna State Opera, and received a European Cultural Prize at the Tonhalle Zurich in 2022. He was a recipient of the Shakespeare Prize from the Alfred Toepfer Foundation and was awarded the “Freedom of the City of London” in 2015.

Tosca28 Sept / 2 / 8 / 11 / 15 / 19 Oct 2025

Brent Michael Smith

Brent Michael Smith is from the USA. He studied voice at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and the University of Northern Iowa, as well as piano at Hope College. In 2021, he won 3rd prize at the Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino, was a finalist at the Queen Sonja International Music Competition, and received the Zachary L. Loren Society scholarship. In 2020, he was a semifinalist at the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions; in 2018, he won prizes at the Opera Index Competition and the Opera Birmingham International Competition, as well as awards at the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition. In the 2016/17 season, he sang Zuniga (Carmen), the British Major (Silent Night by Kevin Puts), Friedrich Bhaer (Little Women), and Ashby (La fanciulla del West) at the Michigan Opera Theatre. In the same season, he made his debut at the Toledo Opera as Antonio (Le nozze di Figaro) and at the Glimmerglass Festival as Ariodante (Xerxes). At the Santa Fe Opera, he appeared as a Lackey (Ariadne auf Naxos). At Opera Philadelphia, he sang Celio (The Love for Three Oranges) and Peter Quince (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) in 2019. After a season at the International Opera Studio, he has been a member of the Opernhaus Zürich ensemble since 2020/21, where he has performed roles in Boris Godunow, Simon Boccanegra, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, in the ballet Monteverdi, as Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Count Lamoral (Arabella), Raimondo Bidebent (Lucia di Lammermoor), Pistola (Falstaff), Angelotti (Tosca), Gualtiero Raleigh (Roberto Devereux), Gremin (Eugene Onegin), Friar Laurence (Roméo et Juliette), and Fafner (Das Rheingold).

Tosca28 Sept / 2 / 8 / 11 / 15 / 19 Oct 2025 Tannhäuser21 / 24 / 27 Jun / 2 / 5 / 8 / 11 Jul 2026 Cardillac15 / 18 / 21 / 25 Feb / 1 / 6 / 10 Mar 2026 Un ballo in Maschera22 / 28 / 31 May / 7 / 13 Jun 2026 Rigoletto20 / 23 / 27 Dec 2025 / 1 / 4 Jan 2026 Arabella14 / 18 / 22 / 25 / 28 Apr 2026

Valeriy Murga

Valeriy Murga studied at the Ukrainian National Music Academy in Kyiv. He was a finalist both at the 41st Concours International de Chant in Toulouse in 1996 and at the 7th Julian Gayarre Competition in Pamplona in 1998. In 1997, he won second prize at the Maria Callas Grand Prix in Athens and was able to take part in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition (BBC) in 1999. From 1997 to 1999, he was a soloist at the Ukrainian National Opera in Kyiv, where he performed roles including Figaro, Don Giovanni, Germont, Escamillo, Onegin, Prince Igor, and Schaunard. His repertoire also includes roles such as Marchese di Posa ("Don Carlo") and Shaklovity ("Khovanshchina").

At Zurich Opera House, Valeriy Murga appeared as a member of the IOS in productions such as Tosca (Sciarrone, Jailer) and Rigoletto (Monterone). Since the beginning of the 2000/01 season, he has been a permanent member of the ensemble and has performed in The Queen of Spades (Yeletsky), Carmen (Moralès), Salome (Second Soldier), Il barbiere di Siviglia (Fiorello/Officer), La sonnambula (Alessio), Rigoletto (Marullo and Monterone), L’italiana in Algeri (Ali), Faust (Wagner), as well as in family operas such as The Canterville Ghost (Dr. Bürkli), Robin Hood (Little John), The Enchanted Pig (Pig), and Jim Button (Half-Dragon/Grand Bonze Pi Pa Po).

He appeared in Tiefland at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona and in L’italiana in Algeri at the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden. Most recently in Zurich, he has been seen in The Odyssey (Eurylochus), Dialogues des Carmélites (The Jailer), La bohème (Doctor Grenvil), Alice in Wonderland (Dormouse/Tweedledum), La rondine (Butler), and The Merry Widow (Bogdanowitsch).

Manon24 / 27 Sept / 3 / 7 / 10 Oct 2025 Tosca28 Sept / 2 / 8 / 11 / 15 / 19 Oct 2025 Werther14 / 19 Jun / 1 / 4 / 10 Jul 2026 Hänsel und Gretel20 / 23 Nov / 2 / 16 / 18 Dec 2025 / 2 / 24 / 25 / 31 Jan 2026

Martin Zysset

Martin Zysset was born and raised in Solothurn. He trained in clarinet and simultaneously completed vocal studies, which he complemented with masterclasses by Ernst Haefliger and Edith Mathis. In 1990/91 he was a member of the International Opera Studio (IOS) and in the same year received a scholarship from the Migros Cooperative Union as well as an award at the Pro Arte Lyrica competition in Lausanne. Since 1992, he has been a regular guest at the Summer Festival in Selzach. He has been engaged at the Opernhaus Zürich since the 1991/92 season, where he developed a broad repertoire ranging from buffo to dramatic roles, including Pedrillo, Monostatos, Spoletta, Incredibile (Andrea Chénier), Jaquino, Kudrjasch (Katja Kabanowa), Cassio, Peppe, Alfred (Die Fledermaus), Spalanzani, Tamino, Tybalt, Dancaïro, Arturo, Knusperhexe, Brighella, as well as the male lead in Udo Zimmermann’s Weisse Rose. He achieved great success portraying the title role Simplicius in the rediscovered operetta by Johann Strauss, which was also released on CD and DVD. Guest performances took him throughout Europe, to Shanghai, and with productions of Die Zauberflöte, Le nozze di Figaro, Fidelio, and Tannhäuser (Walter) to San Diego. He recorded Lehár’s operetta Paganini for Bavarian Radio. Most recently at the Opernhaus Zürich, he sang roles including Don Basilio (Le nozze di Figaro), Tschekalinski (Pique Dame), Triquet (Jewgeni Onegin), the Chief Eunuch (Land des Lächelns), Goro (Madama Butterfly), Spoletta (Tosca), Dormont (La scala di seta), the White Minister (Le Grand Macabre), the Devil/Narrator (Die Geschichte vom Soldaten), the Third Jew (Salome), Schmidt (Werther), and Feri (Die Csárdásfürstin).

La scala di seta25 / 28 Sept / 19 / 24 Oct 2025 Madama Butterfly30 Dec 2025 / 3 / 9 / 11 / 13 / 16 Jan 2026 Un ballo in Maschera22 / 28 / 31 May / 7 / 13 Jun 2026 Le nozze di Figaro24 / 29 Jan / 1 / 5 / 7 / 10 / 14 Feb 2026 Werther14 / 19 Jun / 1 / 4 / 10 Jul 2026 Arabella14 / 18 / 22 / 25 / 28 Apr 2026

Benjamin Molonfalean

Benjamin Avram Molonfalean, Bassbariton, wurde in Rumänien geboren. Sein Musikstudium schloss er an der Königlich Dänischen Musikakademie in Kopenhagen ab. Während seines Studiums sang er u.a. den Förster in Janáčeks Das schlaue Füchslein und die Titelpartie in Le nozze di Figaro. 2015 nahm Benjamin Molonfalean an Meisterkursen von Constance Fee und Gabor Bretz am Crescendo Summer Institute in Tokaj (Ungarn) teil. 2017 debütierte er an der Århus Sommeropera in der Oper Darwin von Niels Marthinsen. 2018 sang er in Rossinis Petite Messe solennelle in der Domkirche in Maribo (Dänemark) sowie 2019 die Titelrolle in Don Pasquale an der Opera Prima in Wien. Seit der Spielzeit 2021/22 ist er Mitglied des Internationalen Opernstudios Zürich und war hier bisher in Tosca, Le Comte Ory und in Dialogues des Carmélites zu erleben.

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Programmbuch

Synopsis

Act One
Interior of the Church of Sant' Andrea della Valle

Cesare Angelotti, a political prisoner who has just escaped from the Castel Sant’ Angelo, furtively enters the church to hide in the private chapel of his sister, the Marchesa Attavanti. The sacristan enters and is surprised to see that the painter, Mario Cavaradossi is not at work. Cavaradossi arri­ves and attempts to resume his work - a painting of a blonde blue-eyed Mary Magdalen, inspired by the Marchesa Attavanti, whom he has seen praying in the church lately. Cavaradossi compares the dark beauty of his beloved Floria Tosca, the most celebrated Prima Donna of her day, with the fair Magdalen.
The sacristan leaves. Angelotti, believing the church to be empty
, steps from his hiding place and is discovered. He is relieved to recognize Cavaradossi, who agrees to help him. Suddenly Tosca’s voice is heard, and Angelotti hides once again. The jealous diva enters, convinced that Cavara­dossi was with another woman. Preoccupied with Angelotti, Cavaradossi quiets her suspicions, and they plan a rendez-vous later that evening. As she is about to leave, Tosca sees the painting, and jealously recognizes the Marchesa Attavanti. Cavaradossi persuades her that his model is sim­ply an unknown worshipper, and they part.
Angelotti emerges just as a cannon shot signals the discovery of his escape. Cavaradossi offers to hide him in his nearby villa, and the two men flee together. The sacristan returns, accompanied by members of the choir. All are excited by the latest news: Napoleon has been crushed at Marengo. There is to be a victory celebration that evening at the Farnese Palace, where the choir will sing a new cantata, with Floria Tosca as soloist.
Suddenly, Baron Scarpia, chief of the Roman police, enters. He and his agent Spoletta have traced Angelotti to the church. After questioning the sacristan, Scarpia surmises that Cavaradossi, a sus­pected Republican sympathizer, has aided the fugitive’s escape. Tosca returns to tell Cavaradossi that she cannot join him later. Scarpia, who desires her, seizes the opportunity to arouse Tosca’s jealousy, and to discover Angelotti’s hiding place. He shows her a fan he has found bearing the Attavanti crest. She is consumed with jealousy and leaves to confront her lover, with Scarpia’s spies following her. Scarpia gloats over the impending realization of his double goal - Cavaradossi on the gallows and Tosca in his arms. Swept up in his vision, he declares that Tosca has made him forget God.

Act Two
Scarpia's apartment in the Farnese Palace

Scarpia is dining in his apartment, savouring the prospect of satisfying his desire for Tosca. He knows that she is singing before the Queen of Napels in another part of the Palace, and sends a note asking to see her. Spoletta enters and reluctantly reports that he followed Tosca to Cavaradossi’s villa, but could not find Angelotti. He quickly adds that he did find Cavaradossi, and has brought him for que­stioning. The painter denies any knowledge of the escaped prisoner, and Scarpia orders him tortured. Tosca arrives and Cavaradossi manages to warn her to say nothing before he is taken into an adjoi­ning room. Tosca skillfully evades Scarpia’s questions until her lover’s cries of pain are heard. Tosca pleads for Cavaradossi. Unable to bear such agony, she reveals Angelotti s hiding place. Cavaradossi is brought out and denounces Tosca for her betrayal. Sciarrone, another of Scarpia’s agents, enters to report a reversal at Marengo - Napoleon has won. Cavaradossi shouts his elation in defiance of Scarpia, and is taken away. Left alone with Scarpia, Tosca attempts to offer him money in exchange for her lover’s life. Scarpia names his price: Tosca herself. Her hatred only intensified his desire. Scarpia persists, and Tosca finally agrees to submit to him in exchange for her lover’s life. Scarpia explains that he cannot simply free Cavaradossi; a mock execution must be staged. Tosca demands that Scarpia write a safe-conduct letter for Cavaradossi and herself. When Scarpia finishes, he advan­ces to claim his prize. Instead Tosca stabs him to death ... She departs at the sound of a distant drum-roll.

Act Three
Ramparts of the Castel Sant'Angelo

Cavaradossi awaits his execution. Musing sadly on Tosca’s beauty and their love he writes her his farewell. She enters and tells him of their safe-conduct letter and of Scarpia’s death, explaining the need for the mock execution. The firing squad approaches. The soldiers fire and Cavaradossi falls. Tosca waits impatiently as the soldiers leave, and then runs to him. To her horror, she sees that he is dead and realizes that she has been tricked. Scarpia’s agents attempt to arrest her, but before they can reach her, she leaps to her death, crying: Scarpia, we will meet before God!