When Puccini’s opera Tosca was first performed in Rome in 1900, an American critic called it a “shocking little shabby.” Shows how much the critics can be wrong … Today it is one of the most performed and appreciated operas in the repertoire. And for good reason.

The story of Floria Tosca, an opera singer in volatile Rome, is gripping from start to finish. Chased by Scarpia, a dangerous police chief, she is cornered when her painter lover Cavaradossi is in danger. What follows includes one of the scariest twists of all operas.

At the Royal Opera House, Jonathan Kent’s production, last staged in 2019, revels in majestic Rome but also focuses on the tense dynamic between lovers and between singer and tyrant. Oksana Lyniv conducts the Orchestra and Choir of the Royal Opera House.

Tosca takes revenge in Puccini’s opera

Performances in Covent Garden are Dec 5 to 22 Feb., and tickets are available now. But on December 15, the opera is screened live in cinemas in the capital.

The cast that night includes Russian soprano Elena Stikhina as Floria Tosca, American tenor Bryan Hymel as Mario Cavaradossi and Russian baritone Alexey Markov as Baron Scarpia. Encore screenings will take place on Wednesday, January 19.

Very highly recommended.

Tosca is sung in Italian with English subtitles