Puccinis Tosca at the Berlin Staatsoper.

6-31 Oct 2006. Kristina Opolais plays the role of Tosca in this production of Giacomo Puccinis famous opera at the Berlin Staatsoper. Set in Rome in 1800, the plot revolves around the famous singer Floria Tosca and her lover, the artist Mario Cavaradossi, whose lives are irrevocably changed when the latter tries to help a political prisoner to escape. Political intrigue and the unwanted attentions of the feared police chief, Scarpia, complicate the story still further. The libretto is by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica after Victorien Sardous play La Tosca. Directed by Carl Riha, this production also features Burkhard Fritz as Cavaradossi and Carlo Guelfi as Scarpia. The Staatskappelle Berlin orchestra is directed by Julien Salemkour, with Detlef Steffen as chorus master for the Staatsoper Choir. Tosca runs for 2 hours 45 mins and is sung in Italian with German sur-titles. Admission 80-8. Performances at 19.30 on 6, 13 & 31 Oct; at 19.00 on 28 Oct.