Tosca

Just got home from the first Tosca rehearsal, what an awesome experience! 16 children from our chorus will be performing in this opera next week along with– FRANK!!

Yes, while hanging out at the rehearsal, the Baltimore Opera Company, http://www.baltimoreopera.com/ announced that they would like a few supers to help out and guess who jumped at the chance? Certainly not me! Even though Jenny doesn’t think I’m shy, I would have melted into a puddle of nerves if anyone had even hinted that I do anything that is not behind the scenes. I even had to beg the director of the chorus to PLEASE not have me stand for recognition during concerts… I just shake and quake at the thought. This is the VERY reason I pushed all my children to have no fear of speaking up and being in the limelight of life. (I may have done too good a job of that..lol)

It was a true experience to sit in that space and watch the Maestro create a visual masterpiece to go along with the auditory feast. The children were very well behaved and were so happy and excited to be there… and I must admit, all did very well with following the queues they were given.
I guess I need to order tickets now. I can’t let my husband walk across the stage in his priestly robes and not be there to witness it!!
In case you are interested:
Tosca By Giacomo Puccini May 5, 9, 11, 13, 2007
Sung in Italian with English surtitles A Baltimore Opera Company production.

“Your eyes cut through my heart like a knife.â€Â� –Baron Scarpia
“Actually, that is a knife.â€Â� –Floria Tosca

The opera takes palace during a 24 hour period in Rome in 1800 as at the city awaits the outcome of the battle between Napoleon’s army and the Austrians at Marengo. Puccini was fanatically accurate about the historic timeline, places and characters that he employed to serve as the backdrop for this fierce battle of wills. The sadistic Baron Scarpia’s obsession with the singer Floria Tosca and her lover’s protection of an escaped political prisoner collide in a spectacular psychological drama. The Baltimore Opera Company production is a re-creation of the actual locations that Puccini and Sardou chose for their opera. Strikingly similar to the sets that Puccini authorized for the premiere of the opera, the Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, Baron Scarpia’s apartments in the Farnese Palace and the roof of the Castel Sant’Angelo are all faithfully recreated as Puccini intended.
The Baltimore Opera Company is proud to welcome soprano Georgina Lukács in the title role. She has appeared in the title role in Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco , Vienna , Berlin , Hamburg operas. World renowned bass-baritone James Morris returns to the Lyric stage. A Baltimore native, Mr. Morris has electrified audiences with his powerful portrayals of Wotan, Scarpia, Don Giovanni and Mephistopheles. Italian tenor Antonello Palombi makes his BOC debut in the role of Cavaradossi. He has appeared in the role in Zurich and Frankfurt and is in great demand throughout Europe for his sensitive portrayals of the great romantic tenor roles. Maestro Andrea Licata who has brought his special expertise of the Italian repertoire to so many BOC productions, will conduct. Running time approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes. 5/5, 5/11 at 8:15pm, 5/9 at 7:30 pm, 5/13 at 3:00 pm