Tosca, Puccini’s enduring favorite opera, starring an exceptional trio of singing actors in the leading roles, returns to Great Performances at the Met Sunday, March 9 at 12 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). (In New York, THIRTEEN will air the program on Sunday, March 23 at 8 p.m.)
Acclaimed American soprano Patricia Racette stars in one of opera’s greatest roles as the ultimate diva, Floria Tosca, in Luc Bondy’s production. French tenor Roberto Alagna sings Tosca’s lover, the painter Cavaradossi, and Georgian baritone George Gagnidze is the corrupt, lustful Scarpia. Italian maestro Riccardo Frizza conducts Puccini’s sweeping, dramatic tale of murder, lust, and political intrigue.
The Huffington Post noted “Racette brings plenty of jealous passion to the part of Tosca… Alagna makes a dashing Cavaradossi. His tenor is a pleasure.” The New York Times observed, “The starkness of the sets suits and amplifies the work’s desperate moods and places the music in sharp relief.”
Soprano Renée Fleming hosts the broadcast.
Tosca was originally seen live in movie theaters on November 9, 2014, as part of the groundbreaking The Met: Live in HD series, which transmits live performances to more than 2,000 movie theaters and performing arts centers in 64 countries around the world.
Great Performances at the Met is a presentation of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET, one of America’s most prolific and respected public media providers. Throughout its 40 year history on public television, Great Performances has provided viewers across the country with an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming. Now in its fifth decade, the series has been the home to the greatest artists in the areas of drama, dance, musical theater, classical and popular music, providing many with their very first television exposure.
Corporate support for Great Performances at the Met is provided by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury home builder®. Additional funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. This Great Performances presentation is funded by the Irene Diamond Fund, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, The Agnes Varis Trust, and public television viewers.
For the Met, Matthew Diamond directs the telecast. Jay David Saks is Music Producer, Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park are Supervising Producers, and Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik are Producers. Peter Gelb is Executive Producer. For Great Performances, Bill O’Donnell is Series Producer; David Horn is Executive Producer.
