His personal life sometimes imitated his libretti. His most famous opera libretti are those for La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Andrea Chénier. Luigi Illica ( – 16 December 1919) was an Italian librettist who wrote for Giacomo Puccini (usually with Giuseppe Giacosa), Pietro Mascagni, Alfredo Catalani, Umberto Giordano, Baron Alberto Franchetti and other important Italian composers. Joshua Horsch is at the podium, Octavio Cardenas directs, Chorus Master is Joseph Svendsen. As an added bonus, OLV favorite bass-baritone Adelmo Guidarelli is featured as the Sacristan. Tosca rounds out the season with an internationally renowned cast including soprano Shannon Jennings, tenor Dominick Chenes, and baritone Daniel Sutin, returning for his fifth appearance with the company. The affectionate friction between the two lovers, the opera diva Tosca and artist Cavaradossi is at least as compelling as the fierce and deadly battle between the malevolent police chief Scarpia and his prey, Tosca-a competition which, her final line threatens, might just continue in the next world. Tosca is structured as a series of duets, each of which is actually an entertaining competition.

(The English translation for this fast-paced shocker is projected above the action – instant understanding!) The crackling melodrama grabs hold from the get-go, which not only makes Tosca ideal for anyone who loves drama and music but is also a great night out for the first-time operagoer.

This evergreen audience favorite is filled with iconic arias and impressive musical moments, and a rousing score brings emotional extremes into sharp relief as the story rushes towards its thrilling conclusion. Careful not to mess with the diva! In Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, a fiery prima donna struggles to free her true love from the clutches of a ruthless police chief.

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