San Francisco Opera: Tosca

Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka

Credit: Robert Millard/courtesy of Los Angeles Opera

An idealistic artist, a celebrated singer and a corrupt police chief engage in a fierce battle of wills in this tempestuous tale of cruelty and deception. With its themes of political intrigue, sexual intimidation and official hypocrisy, Puccini’s great melodrama set in 1800 is anything but dated. Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, praised by The New York Times for her “lushly beautiful sound and poignant vulnerability,” makes her Company debut in the title role. Baritone Lado Ataneli (Scarpia) has been praised by the Los Angeles Times as possessing “one of the healthiest, roundest, most mellifluous voices on the planet.” Honey-voiced Italian tenor Carlo Ventre makes up the third side of this fatal love triangle.

Don't miss the radio broadcast of San Francisco Opera's presentation of Puccini's Tosca on Saturday, October 10 at 1 p.m. on Classical 91.5/90.3 and FM-HD91.5-1.