‘Tosca’ highlights company’s 33rd season

Murder, suicide and torture are not the likeliest subject matter for an opera, but for Giacomo Puccini they were the perfect trio for his dramatic and fascinating “Tosca.” Add to those themes jealousy, romance and passion and you have a complete recipe for drama. Debuting on the first days the twentieth century, and set a hundred years earlier, “Tosca” was not an immediate success although it was soon viewed as powerful and inventive.

Opera Theater of Connecticut celebrates its 33rd season with this Puccini favorite on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 7:30 p.m. (followed by a traditional opening night reception), Thursday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m, Saturday, Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m.

Sung in Italian, with supertitles in English, the performances will be held at Andrews Memorial Theater, 54 East Main Street in Clinton.

The epitome of dramatic art, “Tosca” tells the tale of a renowned female opera singer, Tosca, who is in love with the painter Cavaradossi, but consumed with jealousy. While painting a portrait of a famous lady in a Roman church, Tosca accused her lover of having an affair with his model. He denies it. Meanwhile a fugitive Angelotti has escaped prison and appeals to the painter, his old friend, to hide him from the police, headed by the despicable Scarpia and his henchmen Spoletta and Sciarrone.

As Napoleon is defeated, Cavaradossi helps Angelotti hide in a well at his villa. Soon after Scarpia appears and confronts Tosca, convincing her that a woman’s fan he has found belongs to Cavaradossi’s new lover. His men follow Tosca to find Cavaradossi and torture him, hoping to discover Angelotti’s hiding place. Scarpia bargains with Tosca to give herself to him to save her painter’s life. To prevent being captured, Angelotti has killed himself. Tosca in turn kills Scarpia to save herself and Cavaradossi. The promised fake execution becomes all too real and Tosca flings herself over the parapet once she realizes her lover is dead. Heroes, heroines and villains — no one survives this epic tale of romance, politics and ill-fated dreams.

Production Director Alan Mann is excited to bring back this thrilling production that hasn’t been performed for a decade here.

“Tosca” has a big appeal, and when we realized that three principals from our production of ‘Carmen’ two years ago were available, Rochelle Bard, our bel canto soprano to play the beautiful Tosca, tenor Daniel Juarez as her lover Cavaradossi and Chinese baritone Zhiguang Hong as the powerful and ominous head of the secret police Scarpia, we were all set.” Mann said. “The singers are deep in their roles and will debut them here and be able to add them their repertoire.”

According to General Director Kate Ford, “This is like the United Nations,” said general director Kate Ford. “We even have one singer who is a native of Madison, Connecticut and two girls in the chorus whose dad is a Cardinal in the show for a family connection. Our Cavaradossi, Daniel Juarez, even has his two sons in the chorus.”

Also included in this amazingly talented cast are Ricky Feng Nan as the menacing Spoletta, Michael McAvoy as the henchman Sciarrone, Luke Scott as the escaped prisoner Angelotti and Laurentiu Rotaru as the comic Sacristan.

Ford describes it as “a memorable opera, illuminating the conflicts between purity of heart, love of country and lust for power.”

Extra enhancements include a large and rousing chorus, incredible period costumes and a 26 piece orchestra under the direction of Kyle Swann.

Puccini and passion unite to make this production truly memorable.

Tickets are $55, $50 for seniors and $30 for students. Call 860-669-8999 and inquire about special price of $40 per ticket for a group of 8 or more people with the organizer of the group attending the show for free.

Once again boxed suppers, al fresco style from Chips Pub III, are available through the Opera Theater of Connecticut office for $15 and must be ordered in advance. .

A pre-opera talk by the Artistic Director, Alan Mann is $5 and will take place before the production to enhance your understanding. For more information or to order your tickets, visit the web site www.operatheaterofct.org.