Toledo, OH—Toledo Opera will present Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the Valentine Theatre, 400 North Superior, Toledo, Ohio. Performed by Toledo Opera for the first time in nearly a decade, this production boasts a star-studded cast, composed of Toledo Opera audience favorites, and a world-class creative team. Toledo Opera will also host a free Pre-Opera Talk one hour before each show in the Grand Lobby of the Valentine Theatre. Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts professor, Dr. Eftychia Papanikolaou, will provide historical context and insight and will be available to take questions after the talk.
First performed on January 19, 1900 at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma in Rome, Italy, the premiere of Tosca was followed by 20 subsequent performances, all given to packed houses. With Puccini’s richly romantic score, Tosca is one of the world’s most loved operas to this day. The year is 1800 and Rome finds itself caught in the middle of a war between Napoleon and the Austrian empire – leading some to flee from the police. Spying, double-crossing, and torture have become the order of the day. Beloved opera singer, Floria Tosca would do anything to protect her lover, the painter Cavaradossi – a fact that the lustful police chief Scarpia is all too ready to exploit. When Cavaradossi is accused of harboring political prisoners, Scarpia implores Tosca to make an unthinkable decision. Little does he know how fiercely she will fight to protect herself and those she loves. This heart-pounding new production is brought to life by conductor Geoffrey McDonald (Suor Angelica/Cavalleria Rusticana and The Ballad of Baby Doe) and stage director Jeffrey Buchman (Toledo Opera’s Carmen, 2018, La Bohéme 2020, and Il Trovatore, 2021). Tosca stars Lindsey Anderson (The Ballad of Baby Doe) as Tosca, Brendan Boyle (Ragtime) as Cavaradossi, and Corey Crider (Cavalleria Rusticana) as Scarpia. The production will be sung in Italian with English captions.
Soprano Lindsey Anderson, who will be debuting the role of Tosca, has been described by critics as a formidable presence and has been hailed for her “beautiful and powerful voice” as well as her “commanding stage presence.” A favorite of Toledo Opera audiences, Ms. Anderson has appeared with the company three times – as Augusta Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe, 2019; Julia Child in Bon Appétit, 2020; and as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Celebrazione del Coro, 2023. Anderson has enjoyed a national career, performing with such companies as Seattle Opera, Virginia Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Central City Opera among others.
Tenor Brendan Boyle makes his role debut as Mario Cavaradossi. Described as a “powerful tenor” by the Toledo Blade, Mr. Boyle is an alumnus of Toledo Opera’s Resident Artist program. During his tenure as Toledo Opera tenor Resident Artist, he starred as St. Brioche in The Merry Widow. After an extensive period working regularly with Austin Opera, he has recently been seen as Beppe (I Pagliacci) with Hawaii Opera Theater. He most recently returned to Toledo Opera as Father in Ragtime.
Lauded for his portrayal of his signature role of Scarpia is baritone Corey Crider. Mr. Crider recently joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for their production of Don Carlos. Under the baton of the late Lorin Maazel, Crider has bowed from stages in Beijing, Teatro Petruzelli in Bari, Italy, the Munich Philharmonic, and the great maestro’s own Castleton Festival. Mr. Crider most recently joined Toledo Opera as Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, 2022 and as the baritone soloist in Celebrazione del Coro, 2023.
Also joining the cast are baritone Jason Budd as A Sacristan, baritone and Toledo Opera Resident Artist Robbie Raso as Cesare Angelotti/Jailer, tenor and Toledo Opera Resident Artist Brady DelVecchio as Spoletta, baritone Alex Britton as Sciarrone, and soprano Karen Cook as A Shepherd Boy – bring nationally acclaimed musical prowess of their own, with past performances at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Detroit Opera, LA Metropolitan Opera, the Spoleto Festival, Opera Project Columbus, among many others.
For Toledo Opera’s General Director James M. Norman, the upcoming production of Tosca is an exciting opportunity to partake in multiple debut performances with a number of Toledo Opera audience favorites:
“Tosca is a gorgeous opera with soaring melodies and a dramatic story, which we are excited to produce with a new generation of singers and share with our audience.”
“In Tosca, Puccini has given us the ultimate combination of powerful story-telling with sumptuous, cinematic music,” shared Toledo Opera Artistic Director Kevin Bylsma. “Each time I see this opera, I think that, perhaps this time Tosca and Cavaradossi will live ‘happily ever after.’”
Toledo Opera will perform Tosca at the Valentine Theatre on Friday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 20 at 2 p.m. To learn more about Tosca cast and production team and to buy tickets, visit: toledoopera.org. Tosca is made possible by the Ohio Arts Council.