November 18, 2015 – Tosca – the classic opera by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924); libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa (1847-1906) and Luigi Illica (1857-1919) and based on La Tosca by Victorien Sardou (1831-1908). This performance was conducted by Placido Domingo (1/21/1941 – ) and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Performances between October 16 and December 1, 2015.

The opera is set in Rome on the morning of June 17 / 18, 1800 with the three acts set in the Church of Sant’ Andréa fella Valle, The Palazzo Farnese and Castel Sant’ Angelo.  Cesare Angelotti an escaped prisoner takes refuge in a church where an old friend Mario Cavaradossi is painting a portrait of Mary Magdalene. He agrees to help, but has to deal with his jealous girlfriend Floria Tosca who thinks he is having an affair with a parishioner Marchesa Attavanti who he uses as the model for his painting. The authorities realise the escape and the chief of the secret police Baron Scarpia goes to church looking for him and convinces Tosca of Mario’s infidelity vowing to break her into telling him where Mario has hidden Cesare (actually in a well on his property. In Act 2 Scarpia longs for control of Tosca, his spy Spoletta cannot find Angelotti, but brings in Cavaradossi, who he proceeds to torture to ascertain the location of Angelotti. He does not break, but Tosca cannot put up with his torture and reveals his hiding place. By which time Angelotti has killed himself. Scarpia who, as an opponent to Napoleon is to be executed, but persuades Tosca to give herself to him to allow Cavaradossi to go free. After a safe passage document is penned, and orders for Scarpia to set up a mock execution, she stabs and kills Scarpia. In Act 3 the mock execution takes place, but Tosca soon finds that Spoletta is indeed kills her lover and comes after her to arrest her. She throws herself off the battlement to her death.

As are all the Met productions, this was amazing, beautifully sung and staged. The only issue is that Placido Domingo should “keep hid Day Job” and not pretend he can direct an orchestra in such an illustrious venue.

Cast – Angelotti – Richard Bernstein; Cavaradossi – MarceloLo Giordani; Tosca – Oksana Dyka; Scarpia – James Morris; Spoleta – Eduardo Valdes; Sciarrone – Jeffrey Wells