June 27, 2008 ·It is a classic story of love and betrayal. Passion and piety. Life and death.
Floria Tosca, is a singer who must choose between saving her lover or herself from a man who has loved her from afar.
Chorus Master for the opera, Gary Mayberry introduces us to the characters' situation.
"She is in love with Cavaradossi. Cavaradossi is in love with her. And the antagonist here is Scarpia, the chief of police, very evil man."
Carter Scott plays the title role of Tosca, a jealous woman scorned. She tells us what happens without giving too much away
"Well, she is propelled to do a crime of passion; she was backed into her corner and she has to come out with both fists and knives."
The struggle is one that leads to tragedy, a common theme in Puccini's opera's. Madame Butterfly, La Boheme and Tosca. All works by Puccini all have tragic heroines.
Puccini's operas are also all among the top ten most performed operas in the world. Gary tells us why they can be so tragic but still so popular.
"There is the characteristic of the heroine, all of whom reach a better end. So, I'd say if anything, it's the elevation of the heroine; the classic Puccini heroine."
But let's not forget about love says Gary, "The theme of love here is the passionate relationship between the painter Cavaradosi and the singer Tosca."
The San Antonio Opera will be back in September to kick off their 2008-2009 season with "Carmen".
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