Screening of the classic opera “Tosca” in Vietnam

The classic opera “Tosca” by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini will premiere in the capital on the evening of September 27, shown in Italian with English subtitles at Hanoi Cinematheque, 22A Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi.

Soprano Kelly Cae Hogan in “Tosca.” (Photo credit: kellycaehogan.com)

“Tosca” is constructed as a continuous work, including arias (melodic pieces, either independent or part of larger works such as operas, cantatas, or orators), recitatives, choruses, and other elements that are seamlessly interwoven.

Puccini used leitmotifs (short musical themes) to indicate characters, subjects, and ideas. This work contains three of the most famous arias in the entire world opera repertoire, one in each act.

This three-act opera by Giacomo Puccini premiered on January 14, 1900 at the Teatro Costanzi, Rome, based on the melodramatic play by French playwright Victorien Sardou.

Having seen Sardou's play on tour in Italy in 1889, Giacomo Puccini won the rights to adapt it into an opera in 1895. It took Puccini four years of work and constant arguments with the librettist to turn the French play with its long dialogue into a concise Italian opera.

Despite mixed reviews from critics, the opera was a success upon its release.

The story revolves around the singer Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi and the police chief, Baron Scarpia. When a prisoner escapes and only two people know his whereabouts, Cavaradossi and Tosca, Scarpia uses torture to force Tosca to reveal information. Tragedy occurs when all three characters mistakenly believe that they will get what they want from the others./.

According to Vietnam+ - M.Đ