Florentine Opera’s new production of Puccini’s “Tosca” has the most elaborate content advisory this side of premium cable:
“Tosca” “contains depictions of interrogation and torture, physical aggression and sexual threat, an onstage stabbing, a firing-squad execution accompanied by recorded gunfire, and a character’s suicide.”
It also has a rich and powerful score, performed by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra under conductor (and Florentine music director) Francesco Milioto, that takes full musical advantage of a first act set in a Roman church circa 1800.
At Florentine’s invitation, I attended the May 13 dress rehearsal.
In that chaotic year of 1800, Napoleon’s invading army was marching on Rome. Angelotti (baritone David Drettwan), an escaped political prisoner, dashes to the church, where his friend Cavaradossi (tenor Chaz’men Williams-Ali), a painter working on a giant portrait of Mary Magdalene, hides him. When Cavaradossi’s lover, the singer Tosca (soprano Ann Toomey), visits the painter, she thinks he’s hiding a mistress instead. The evil Baron Scarpia (baritone Alfred Walker) plays on her jealous insecurity in a plan to flush out the escapee ‒ and have Tosca, too.
Somehow Puccini crafted an opera that focuses tightly on the painter, singer and evil baron while also being large in scope. The church and execution scenes bring us the stirring sounds of pealing bells. And near the end of Act One, Scarpia’s scheming internal monologue is juxtaposed against other cast members, the Florentine Opera Chorus and children from four local schools in a church procession, singing the solemn traditional hymn “Te Deum.” It’s a scene that may give you a “Godfather” vibe.
Williams-Ali is noble as the painter, faithful to Tosca and willing to die to protect his friend. His vocal moments include the aching appreciation of life expressed in the aria “E lucevan le stelle.” Walker is as delightfully evil as a Disney villain; his Scarpia could give Don Giovanni a few pointers in caddishness.
Toomey is a force throughout who teaches Scarpia that “the kiss of Tosca” is much sharper than he bargained for.
David Radames Toro stage directed this dramatic production.
If you go
Florentine Opera performs “Tosca” at 7:30 p.m. May 15 and 2:30 p.m. May 17 at Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall, 929 N. Water St. Visit florentineopera.org or call (414) 291-7500.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Florentine Opera’s ‘Tosca’ both powerful and richly musical
Reporting by Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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