PARIS — Many 19th-century opera composers wrote roles to suit the voices and characters of their wives or mistresses. When Puccini created a tempestuous diva called Floria Tosca, however, he could hardly have imagined that the Greek-American soprano Maria Callas would someday turn his “Tosca” into one of the most popular operas. Daring were those who competed with Callas in the role during her prime in the 1950s and 1960s. On May 16, Pierre Audi’s production of “Tosca” returns to the Paris Opera, running through June 23. And on this occasion, accompanied by Jonas Kaufmann and Marcelo Puente as Cavaradossi, and Zeljko Lucic and Luca Salsi as Scarpia, three renowned sopranos will sing Floria Tosca.

Source: New York Times May 09, 2019 14:03 UTC