Puccini’s Tosca Coming to Orcas Center

from Artha Kass

Sunday, November 10, 1 p.m., Orcas Center

Tosca. Photo by Ken Howard.

Sweeping drama, murder, lust and political intrigue – all part of Puccini’s enduring favorite, Tosca. Starring an exceptional trio of singing actors in the leading roles, Tosca will be simulcast LIVE from the Metropolitan Opera in Manhattan to Orcas Center on Sunday, November 10 at 1:00 p.m. Acclaimed American soprano Patricia Racette stars in one of opera’s greatest roles as the ultimate diva, Floria Tosca, in Luc Bondy’s production. French tenor Roberto Alagna sings Tosca’s lover, the painter Cavaradossi, and Georgian baritone George Gagnidze is the corrupt, lustful Scarpia. Italian maestro Riccardo Frizza conducts. Bondy updated the story of a diva, her lover and the lecherous chief of the secret police, from 1800 to a decadent Rome in the early 20th century. When Giacomo Puccini was seized with the idea of making an opera from Victorien Sardou’s play La Tosca, he wrote to his publisher that the subject suited him because it was “without excessive proportions or a decorative spectacle.” Tosca by Luc Bondy is more in line with the composer’s vision of a lean, no-frills theatrical event. Renée Fleming hosts. “Racette brings plenty of jealous passion to the part of Tosca… Alagna makes a dashing Cavaradossi. His tenor is a pleasure.” —Huffington Post “The starkness of the sets suits and amplifies the work’s desperate moods and places the music in sharp relief.” —The New York Times Tickets for Tosca from The Met: Live in HD are $18 for adults, $13 students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon – 4 pm. For more information about Orcas Center 2013 season events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.