On stage, the Te Deum is a study in excess with enormous chorus, canons and tons of extras needed for the high church spectacle. The most famous of the opera’s set pieces is the Te Deum that closes Act I. These set pieces are brought together with visually interesting cinematography by Dan Wallace Miller and Ken Christensen to help tell Floria Tosca’s tale. Even the stunning Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary becomes a prison cell, where the final tragic moments of the opera are set into motion. Scarpia stomps around in the cathedral’s side chapel, now transformed into his office. Angelotti scoops life-replenishing water from the baptismal font to quench his thirst. Action unfolds in nearly every prominent spot in the church. Its imposing architecture, ornate interior and almost ominous sense of place make it a good substitute for the first act’s intended setting – the Church of St. Act I of the opera is set entirely within a church which is enough reason to use St.

The star of this production is Seattle’s iconic St. It is a produced film of the opera set at an iconic Seattle location that makes use of cinematography and a rich soundtrack – and soon to be available for streaming. Seattle’s latest Tosca isn’t a live version or even a recording of a past staging. Luc Bondy’s hyper-sexual production for the Metropolitan Opera in 2009 stirred strong feelings among viewers who had grown accustomed to the beloved opulence of Franco Zeffirelli’s version. This warhorse has been staged many times at McCaw Hall, most recently in 2015, and refreshing a classic like Tosca can be challenging. Take, for instance, Seattle Opera’s latest production of Puccini’s Tosca. But even with hopes that the future will include a return of the familiar, innovation is still abundant. In Seattle, COVID-19 is receding, and arts organizations are looking ahead to a new season in the autumn with in-person performances.

(ZC) Alexandra LoBianco (Tosca) & Michael Chioldi (Scarpia) (c) Philip Newton

United States Puccini, Tosca: Soloists and Chorus of the Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony / Kazem Abdullah (conductor), Seattle.

Paris opera awaiting ahead