This production of Tosca filmed at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, with its stage set based on Adolf Hohenstein’s original design for the work’s premiere, brings together the best contemporary soprano-tenor combination Daniela Dessi and Fabio Armiliato – are set against a worthy opponent in the form of Claudio Sgura as Baron Scarpia.

Such a combination of gentleman and scoundrel in one person is a perfect candidate to make “all Rome tremble before him.”

Tosca is a classic example of Puccini’s three-person dramatic structure – a tragic pair of lovers juxtaposed with an interfering baritone! But these traditional roles are portrayed here in a much more realistic and psycho- logically accurate manner than usual. In vocal and dramatic terms however, the main attraction remains the title figure – and the reason why the work, became the archetypal prima donna opera.