Puccini’s Tosca is iconic, one of opera’s greatest hits. It’s an action thriller, packed with deep human emotion and high-stakes drama, that has stood the test of time, remaining grippingly modern, even 125 years after its premiere. But Tosca wasn’t always a hit, deemed by critics as having a plot too violent with music too new. Read our quick guide to learn all you need to know about this powerhouse of an opera.
Tosca is an opera in three acts, based on the play La Tosca, by Victorien Sardou. Tosca premiered in Rome in 1900; at the time, Italy was experiencing social and political unrest. Although Puccini wasn’t known for taking a political stance, he couldn’t resist the story – the passion, the power and the deceit, essentially, the drama! Set in Rome under an oppressive government, Tosca tells the story of two lovers, Rome’s adored singer, Floria Tosca and artist Mario Cavardossi. But Baron Scarpia, the ruthless Chief of Police, wants Tosca for himself. Cavaradossi helps Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political fugitive, and, on realising Cavaradossi's involvement, Scarpia seizes the opportunity to blackmail Tosca with devastating consequences.
Puccini championed verismo (realism) in his operas rather than mythology; it’s the relatability and complexity of Tosca’s characters which have, in part, led to its enduring popularity. Tosca is both vulnerable and strong, Cavaradossi is a man of integrity, and in stark contrast, there’s Scarpia, one of opera’s most notorious villains. Audiences are absorbed in the drama and emotionally invested in the characters as they watch events unfold.
Putting this gripping story to one side for a moment, we can’t forget the music. Te Deum is the powerful chorus piece at the end of Act 1, with church bells and cannon fire, as Scarpia plots Cavaradossi’s demise. Then, there’s the deeply moving Vissi d’arte sung by Tosca in a moment of despair and protest about her situation, and E lucera le stelle, Cavaradossi’s heartbreaking farewell to life in the final act. Sung in Italian, Puccini’s powerful scores, including soaring arias and memorable melodies, add even more depth to the drama.
But it’s the coming together of the story and the music which has cemented Tosca in history as a timeless and influential classic. Puccini was a perfectionist, relentless in his pursuit of musical and dramatic perfection, committed to integrating the music and drama seamlessly.
We’re delighted to bring you Edward Dick’s acclaimed production of Tosca with a stellar cast including the Welsh Ukrainian soprano, Natalya Romaniw in the title role alongside an internationally renowned creative team including Conductor Gergely Madaras, who was named 2025 Conductor of the Year at the Bartok Radio Awards and Set Designer, Tom Scott, whose career began at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has seen him collaborate with the likes of Alexander McQueen, as well as bring to life Cabaret’s Kit Kat Club. Tosca opens in Cardiff on 14 September before touring to Southampton, Llandudno and Bristol.
