Tosca

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Taylor Renée Horne

Michelle Johnson (left) and Limmie Pulliam in "Tosca."

Michelle Johnson (left) and Limmie Pulliam in "Tosca," Madison Opera, 2023.

American musicologist Joseph Kerman once referred to Puccini’s Tosca as a “shabby little shocker,” largely due to the violence in its narrative. Based on what was considered a scandalous French play of the time, it’s a classic melodrama from one of the greats — filled with famous arias, large choruses, and other features that make it a much-loved standard. Madison Opera's performances take place at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 and 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.

media release: Madison Opera opens its 63rd season with Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca on Friday, November 3 at 8pm and Sunday, November 5 at 2:30pm in Overture Hall at the Overture Center for the Arts. One of the most popular operas in the world, Tosca is a tightly-written melodrama that combines soaring music, true love, and political intrigue into three acts of headlong drama.

Set in Rome in 1800, the opera tells of the opera singer Floria Tosca, who risks everything to save her lover, the painter Mario Cavaradossi, from sinister police chief Baron Scarpia. An escaped political prisoner,

a religious procession, and a Napoleonic battle set the stage for a tragedy that ends with perhaps the most famous final few seconds in any opera.

Puccini based his opera on Victorien Sardou’s 1887 play La Tosca, which had scandalized critics and was a smash hit with audiences. Since the opera’s premiere in 1900, it has been a major part of the repertoire, acclaimed as theatrically sensational and musically thrilling. “Tosca is simply great musical theater, in all sense of those two words,”

says Kathryn Smith, Madison Opera’s General Director. “Puccini’s music delineates every dramatic moment, whether that is the raw emotion of Tosca’s plea to God, the anguish of Cavaradossi’s final moments in prison, or the orchestral tension as Tosca is faced with a terrible decision. We have assembled an amazing cast to bring all of those moments to vivid life.”

Michelle Johnson returns to the Madison Opera stage as Tosca, following her success here as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and at Opera in the Park 2019. She is joined by Limmie Pulliam in his role debut as Cavaradossi. Mr. Pulliam debuted at Opera in the Park 2022, and last year garnered New York Times headlines following his Metropolitan Opera debut. Craig Irvin makes his role debut as Baron Scarpia, one of the greatest villain roles in opera, following his acclaimed performances here last season as Jochanaan in Salome.

They are joined by Alex Soare as the escaped prisoner Angelotti, Mark Billy as the Sacristan, William Johnson as Spoletta, Timothy Krueger as Sciarrone, and Ryan White as the Jailer. The large choral procession features not only the Madison Opera Chorus, but also members of the Madison Youth Choirs, joining the company for the first time in five years.

Frances Rabalais directs this traditional production in her Madison Opera debut. John DeMain conducts, with members

of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. The opera will be sung in Italian, with projected English translations.