TOSCA 101

Tosca is both a great opera for newbies to the art form and a rewarding piece to hear multiple times; it's accessible—a 'thriller' as cinematic as any Hollywood classic—and also stacked with layers of sumptuous artistry to savor. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Tosca, with musical examples from Seattle Opera archival recordings of Tosca made in 2001, 2007, and 2015 and featuring Stefano Secco and Frank Porretta, Jr. as Cavaradossi, Greer Grimsley as Scarpia, and Marcy Stonikas, Ausrine Stundyte, Lisa Daltirus, and Carol Vaness as Tosca. The chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera were conducted by Antonello Allemandi in 2001, Vjekoslav Sutej in 2007, and Julian Kovatchev in 2015.