What a thrill it was to experience the recent production of Puccini's powerful opera at The Coliseum. Directed by Catherine Malfitano, herself a great Tosca, and conducted by Edward Gardner the performance gripped the packed auditorium throughout. The large orchestra responded magnificently to the maestro's direction adding considerably to the drama.
Puccini's Tosca is one of the stalwarts of the repertoire, with its soaring music and a showstopping number in each act: the evil Scarpia expounding his wicked plans to the background of the Te Deum, Tosca's Vissi d'arte awakening to the harsh world around her and Cavaradossi's lament on death row E lucevan le stelle in Act III.
