Puccini - Tosca

Puccini - Tosca

From the Opéra Royal de Liege comes 'Tosca', an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini. Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa (according to Victorien Sardou). With Barbara Haveman (Floria Tosca); Marc Laho (Mario Cavaradossi); Ruggero Raimondi (Il Barone Scarpia); Roger Joakim (Cesare Angelotti); Laurent Kubla (Il Sagrestano); Giovanni Iovino (Spoletta); Marc Tissons (Sciarrone); Pierre Gathier (Un carciere); Orchestra and chorus from Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Liège. Tosca is the fifth Puccini's opera and it marks a stylistic turning point. 'Bohemia', his previous opera, can be considered the first of his masterpieces: it's also the last one with a "verismo" theme, based on people's daily reality. 'Tosca' returns to the pure tragedy, with historical figures. It doesn't mean a step backwards, because the theatrical and musical treatment differs from Verdi's way of composing. It's a dense work, focused on a few characters with very detailed psychology. There is little room for genre scenes or crowds. Puccini was influenced very strongly by actress Sarah Bernhardt's performance in the Victorien Sardou's play 'Tosca'. The actress haunts the composition and inspires Floria Tosca's melodic tones.