of the performance itself, as the cast members delivered a beautiful performance over the course of the show’s three acts, with the song Vissi d’arte being a true show stopper in my opinion. Tosca itself is a political thriller, set in Rome in June 1800 (during the Napoleonic wars and a time of great political unrest). The action takes place over less than twenty-four hours, making it an intense experience! 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. Scarpia has long lusted after Tosca, and when he suspects Cavaradossi of assisting an escaped political prisoner, seizes the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. He will manipulate Tosca into revealing the prisoner’s hiding place and Cavaradossi’s involvement, and have her for himself. When Cavaradossi is captured, Scarpia offers Tosca a horrific bargain – she must give herself to Scarpia, or her lover is killed. Overall, my trip to Tosca was an amazing experience, and I would highly recommend anyone interested in Italy or the opera in general, to go and watch it. By Patrick Hepper 47
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