Listen Saturday, April 8th at 1:00pm.Program notes courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera.

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Sparks are sure to fly as some of opera’s most electrifying artists light up Puccini’s classic thriller. Set in 1800's Rome, an adored singer, Tosca, must make the impossible choice between saving her lover or submitting to the authoritarian chief of police. Soprano Angela Gheorghiu takes on the title role of the desperate diva, opposite tenor Matthew Polenzani as the ardent painter-revolutionary Cavaradossi. Baritone Željko Lučić portrays the merciless Baron Scarpia, with Domingo Hindoyan conducting.

Read a synopsis of the opera.

CONDUCTOR: Domingo Hindoyan

CAST:

Tosca - Angela Gheorghiu

Cavaradossi - Matthew Polenzani

Scarpia - Željko Lučić

Sacristan - Patrick Carfizzi

Give WQXR morning host Jeff Spurgeon three minutes and he'll give you an entire opera. Listen to his 3-minute summary of Tosca belowWant a closer look at the music of Tosca? Stream the Aria Code podcast episode featuring Joseph Calleja's performance of "E lucevan le stelle."