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| Mario and Tosca |
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| Extravagant set |
I have always enjoyed
the sound of Italian which is the language sung in "Tosca" but thanks to the subtitles,
this Italian girl did not have to rely on her limited ability to understand it. This story is set in Rome during the 1800’s.
It involves an intense romance between a
heroic painter, Mario Cavaradossi (
Thiago Arancam ), and an opera diva, Floria Tosca (Leah Crocetto) and the politics of a Roman police chief,
Baron Scarpia (Mark Delavan), the villain.
“Tosca” is a three act opera and I enjoyed each act for a
different musical reason. Act I opened with the escaped political prisoner,
Casare Angelotti (Andy Berry) taking refuge in the
Attavani Chapel. Mario, who is painting a portrait of the Madonna (you must have a Madonna in anything Italian), discovers Angelotti. Mario a loyal friend, pledges to help hide Angelotti. Thus, he is the handsome hero.
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| Tosca instructs Mario to change the portraits eyes to brown |
The first act had a lightheartedness expressed in the singing and in
Puccini’s music. We quickly discover the beautiful
tone of the tenor, Arancam as Mario, and the amazing
power of the soprano, Crocetto as Tosca, as they playfully flirt
with each other in front of the
Madonna. The passionate but jealous
Tosca repeatedly instructs Mario to change the portraits eye
color to brown. She wants to remain his “"Brown Eyed Girl". (I can be a fan of both Van Morrison and the opera.)
Mario sang about Tosca's brown eyes and how he longingly melted
into them. Yes, for a minute he was singing to me and yes, I thought, how wonderful it would be for
someone to feel that way about my brown
eyes. That is what a good opera does, it
makes you absorb the feelings produced through
the passion of the music!
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| Mario is being tortured by Scarpia's men |
Tosca released her powerful soprano vocals as she pleads for Mario’s life and struggles with having to spend a night with Scarpia in order to save Mario’s life. Her voice filled the theater even as she was practically lying on the floor. Her sound was unbelievable!
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| Scarpia makes his advances |
A tormented Tosca agrees to Scarpia’s proposition which results in Scarpia agreeing to arrange a mock execution of her lover. He also writes a document that gives Mario his freedom. Just as Scarpia makes his physical move, Tosca stabs him. She flees with the document leaving the murdered Scarpia with a crucifix on his chest. As you can see, the intense drama in this act parallels the amplified vocals.
In the beginning of Act III, the orchestra played Puccini’s musical score without song. We listened to this magnificent music as the guard paced the castle wall before the execution and Mario prepared his last love letter to Tosca.
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| Tosca mourns Mario's death |
Initially, Tosca was so joyful in Act III when she reunited with Mario. She tells him about the plan and gives him instruction on how to convincingly fake his death. Of course Scarpa betrays Tosca and the firing
squad kills Mario.
Her joy quickly transformed into deep grief. She ends her life as the Roman solders come to arrest her for Scarpia’s murder by jumping off the wall crying, “Oh Scarpia, we meet before God!”
Her joy quickly transformed into deep grief. She ends her life as the Roman solders come to arrest her for Scarpia’s murder by jumping off the wall crying, “Oh Scarpia, we meet before God!”
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| Tosca leaps off the wall to her death -"Oh Scarpa, we meet before God!" |
Pittsburgh Opera's "Tosca" was an igniting musical
experience in so many different ways. I
say, don’t miss this classic (shows
October 7, 10, 13, 15). I can’t wait
to see the next one, Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro”
Spirituals Refection
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-for your love is more
delightful than wine. (Song of Solomon 1:2).
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste (Song of Solomon 2:3)
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste (Song of Solomon 2:3)
Other sources