![]() A masterpiece by composer Giacomo Puccini (who also gave the world “La bohéme” and “Madama Butterfly”), this “Tosca” is as pitch perfect as opera gets. The majestic sets are embellished by Duane Schuler’s dramatic lighting effects, and Marcel Escoffier’s period costumes that are based on his iconic original designs for the most famous Tosca of them all, Maria Callas.Ī gripping story of love, passion, and betrayal, “Tosca” offers a heightened theatricality that grabs one’s attention from beginning to end. These take on a depth and larger-than-life perspective within the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, an apartment in the Palazzo Farnese (Farnese Palace), and on the roof of the Castel Sant’Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angels). ![]() The towering scenery, originally created by French designer Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, is spectacular, giving the production a sense of swirling climactic events. Russell Thomas as Cavaradossi in the Lyric Operation production of “Tosca.” (Cory Weaver) Thankfully this production keeps to its traditional production values, which have been enhanced by a compelling ensemble of performers and talented designers. She realized that trying to fit the work into a modern framework would, as it often does, compromise the opera’s force and its composer’s vision. That’s because director Louisa Muller did not succumb to reimagining the opera to fit modern unconventional sensibilities and kept faithful to the classic. ![]() Indeed, this new-to-Chicago production of “Tosca” is the highlight of the Lyric Opera season. With its drama of good versus evil, fast-paced suspense, and a melodramatic plot that’s as much a thriller as a Hitchcock film, it’s no wonder that it still has the power to capture the public’s imagination. ![]() CHICAGO-“Tosca” debuted in 1900 in Rome and immediately became one of the most popular operas of all time, which it continues to be into our contemporary age. ![]()
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