The Greek National Opera (GNO) presents Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca to be staged at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, beneath the glow of the Acropolis as part of the 2020 Athens and Epidaurus Festival.
This production of Puccini’s Tosca was originally directed by Nikos Petropoulos a decade ago and now returns to the GNO programme, under the direction of Katerina Petsatodi.
Renowned Greek baritone Dimitris Platanias embodies the role of Scarpia, while the title role will be interpreted by two celebrated sopranos, Anna Pirozzi in the first cast and Cellia Costea in the second.
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A full house for the Greek National Opera at a previous year’s Athens & Epidaurus Festival. Photograph: Dimitris Sakalakis/courtesy of GNO
ABOUT PUCCINI’S TOSCA
Tosca is an opera in three acts, performed to an Italian libretto. A political thriller, set in Rome in June 1800 (during the Napoleonic wars and a time of great political unrest), the plot centres around three main characters – Rome’s diva Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi (a painter and republican) and the corrupt chief of police, Baron Scarpia.
In a beautiful church, the painter Cavaradossi is working. When an escaped prisoner bursts in, Cavaradossi risks his own life to help Angelotti hide from the Fascist police. But Cavaradossi’s lover, Tosca, overhears him talking and becomes jealous. In spite of Cavaradossi’s ardent assurances of love, it is easy for the chief of police, Scarpia to fan the flames of her jealousy. He wants Tosca for himself.
A previous performance of Tosca by the Greek National Opera. Photograph: courtesy of GNO
Scarpia arrests Cavaradossi on suspicion of aiding Angelotti, and as he is tortured, Tosca is made to listen to his cries. She has a fateful choice before her: give into the hateful Scarpia’s lascivious demands and save her lover’s life, or save her honour and kill Cavaradossi. In that terrible moment, Tosca makes a choice, and the consequences play out in a heart-wrenching Act III.
With sets and costumes by the internationally acclaimed Argentinian director Ugo de Ana.
To be performed for 4 evenings in July under the baton of conductor Pier Giorgio Morandi with the GNO Orchestra, chorus and soloists.
Why Athens Tip: The performance of Norma will feature subtitles in both English and Greek.
TICKETS ARE NOT YET ON SALE – EXPECTED FIRST QUARTER 2020
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