Lorenzo Passerini conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Regio. The magnificent production is staged by Mario Pontiggia and Francesco Zito

Teatro Regio, Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 8 pm

Tuesday, October 15, at 8 pm, Tosca by Giacomo Puccini will be presented, an opera that inaugurates the season, alternating with I pescatori di perle (The Pearl Fishers). The production is staged by Mario Pontiggia and Francesco Zito, originating from Teatro Massimo in Palermo. Anna Pirozzi and Marcelo Álvarez will play the roles of Floria Tosca and Mario Cavaradossi. The Chorus is under the guidance of Chorus Master Andrea Secchi, and the Teatro Regio Children's Chorus and the "G. Verdi” Conservatory Chorus are under the guidance of Claudio Fenoglio. Due to an indisposition, the conductor Daniel Oren has been forced to give up the first four Tosca's performances, from 15 to 19 October. Teatro Regio Torino thanks Maestro Lorenzo Passerini who has agreed to replace him on short notice.

Mario Pontiggia is the stage director, the scenery and costumes are by Francesco Zito, and the lighting design is by Bruno Ciulli. The magnificent staging, of a traditional layout, acts as a sounding board for the strong pictorial value of Puccini's music, projecting the viewer into an opulent but oppressive space visually dominated by the symbols of Papal Rome: from the perspective view of the  dome of the Sant'Andrea della Valle church in the first act, to the redundant and heavy furnishings of Palazzo Farnese - the hideout of the diabolical Scarpia, both an alcove and torture chamber - until the tragic epilogue on the terrace of Castel Sant'Angelo, where the papal coat of arms is the literal and symbolic background for Tosca's death.  

One of the most beloved operas of all time, in 1900 Tosca was revolutionary, opening a new page of Italian opera and the pathway to a fully mature Puccini, a master in musically painting an environment that not only acts as a background but is a motor of the drama itself: Rome in the 1800s, dominated by the cruel Vatican police, amidst bigotry, violence, and pomp. Occurring in the background are the battle of Marengo, Napoleon, and the political tensions of the Republicans.

The authors Illica and Giacosa created a perfect dramatic layout, with unity of time, place, and action. In their three-act libretto, the speed of action and the constant dramatic tension leave room for Puccini's great melodic arias - among the most beautiful in the history of opera - and the intense psychological characterization of the characters, underlined by the subtlety in the use of the guiding themes.

Tosca, a prima donna of the theatre yet very genuine in showing her passions - love, hate, and jealousy that will lead her to tragedy - will be interpreted by Anna Pirozzi, whose clear and assured voice was heard in her debut in 2012, on this very same stage in Turin, in the role of Amelia (Un ballo in maschera), and who has sung the prima donna roles of many of Verdi's operas, as well Puccini's and Verismo operas, in the major world theaters, establishing herself as one of the most popular dramatic sopranos today. The great tenor Marcelo Álvarez plays the impetuous Mario Cavaradossi, one of the most appreciated roles in his vast repertoire. In his important artistic career, Álvarez, has confidently embraced bel canto, as well as Verdi's operas and Verism; the impervious vocal part by Puccini, ranging from romantic and heroic impulses to the lyrical yearning of "E lucevan le stelle", was immortalized by the Argentine tenor in a DVD recorded live in 2011 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The role of Vitellio Scarpia has not been cast yet.

The main roles wil be alternated in the 10 performances, from October 15 to October 29: Carmen Giannattasio (Tosca), Jonathan Tetelman (Cavaradossi) and Gevorg Hakobyan (Scarpia). Other members of the cast include: Roberto Abbondanza (the sacristan), Bruno Lazzaretti (Spoletta), Romano Dal Zovo (Angelotti), and Gabriel Alexander Wernick (Sciarrone).

The live radio transmission of the opera, curated by Susanna Franchi, will be broadcast on Rai Radio 3, Tuesday October 15 at 8 pm. 

For The Conferences of Teatro Regio, on Wednesday, October 9 at 5.30 pm, in the theater's Foyer del Toro, Oreste Bossini, along with the soprano Anna Pirozzi, will give the presentation of the opera: Tosca. Puccini's dark side. Free admission. 

Tickets are on sale at the Teatro Regio ticket office, piazza Castello 215 - Tel. 011.8815.241/242, at Infopiemonte-Torinocultura, at theVivaticket sales points, on line at www.teatroregio.torino.it.
Ticket prices: on October 15,  €160 - 125 - 105 - 80 - 55; for the performances on October 19, 22, 24 and 27, €100 - 90 - 80 - 70 - 30; for October 16, 18, 23 and 25, €90 - 80 - 70 - 65 - 30; on October 29,  €60 - 55 - 50 - 45 - 30. There are tickets with a 20% reduction for those under 30  and a 10% discount for those over 65 (excluding the performance on October 29). With the 18app, it is possible to buy tickets (in any sector) at the cost of €25 for the opening on October 15. One hour before the performances, any tickets still available are placed on sale with a 20% percent reduction of the full price (with the exception of October 29). 
For further information: Tel. 011.8815.557 and www.teatroregio.torino.it. 

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thereby helping to make this new production unforgettable.