Tosca
by Giacomo Puccini
director Rachel McDonald
design Robbie Harrold
lighting Jerry Reinhardt
music composition Tommaso Pollio
cast James Clayton, Jun Zhang, Kristin Bowtell, Pia Harris, Jake Bigwood, Robert Hofmann, Hattie Marshall
Centenary Pavilion, Claremont Showgrounds Perth
Freeze Frame Opera 2019
♫ audio track: 'Tosca, Act III: E lucevan le stelle (Instrumental Version)' by Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
John Marshall
Tosca is a political thriller, set in Rome in June 1800 (during the Napoleonic wars and a time of great political unrest). The action takes place over less than 24 hours, making it an intense experience!
The plot centres around three main characters – Rome’s diva Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi (a painter and republican) and the corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia. Scarpia has long lusted after Tosca, and when he suspects Cavaradossi of assisting an escaped political prisoner, seizes the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. He will manipulate Tosca into revealing the prisoner’s hiding place and Cavaradossi’s involvement, and have her for himself.
When Cavaradossi is captured, Scarpia offers Tosca a horrific bargain – she must give herself to Scarpia, or her lover is killed… what will she choose, and who will survive?