Love, power, and deadly intrigue: Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca" is one of the most gripping operas in the Italian repertoire. An intense opera psychological thriller unfolds in Rome, in which passion and political violence collide inexorably.

The famous singer Floria Tosca and the painter Mario Cavaradossi want nothing more than to live for their art and their love. But their lives are caught up in the maelstrom of political power struggles in Rome in 1800. Cavaradossi sympathizes with the ideals of a liberal republic, even helping a fugitive republican—and thus coming under the scrutiny of the powerful police chief Baron Scarpia.

Scarpia rules Rome with brutal harshness and persecutes anyone suspected of republican activities. When he learns of Cavaradossi's help for the fugitive, he sees an opportunity to bring Tosca under his control as well. With a perfidious plan, he has Cavaradossi arrested and tortured, while Tosca is forced to witness her lover's torment. In this hopeless situation, Scarpia makes her a cruel offer that puts love, loyalty, and morality to the test.

Puccini's opera unfolds within just 24 hours and takes place in three iconic locations in Rome: the Church of Sant'Andrea della Valle, the Palazzo Farnese, and Castel Sant'Angelo. With passionate arias, dramatic orchestral moments, and a dense atmosphere, Puccini created a work that combines suspense, emotion, and political tragedy into an intense piece of musical theater. To this day, Tosca remains a harrowing drama about abuse of power, courage, and the destructive power of passion.
Premiere June 13,
Further performances: June 20 and 26, 2026