"Tosca" Opens Tonight at Winter Opera Saint Louis

Winter Opera Saint Louis concludes its sixth season with a production of Giacomo Puccini’s tale of corruption, deceit, passion and murder: Tosca.

Scarpia, Rome’s feared chief of police savors the thought of seducing opera diva Floria Tosca, then murdering her rebel lover Mario Cavaradossi…as he listens to Mass. Will Tosca succumb to a fate worse than death to save her lover from a firing squad? The desperate heroine does what she must do in this Puccini classic with a score featuring the operatic gems “Recondita armonia,” “E lucevan le stelle” and “Vissi d’arte.”

Soprano Stella Zambalis as Floria Tosca
Photo © Ron Lindsey

Four artists make their Winter Opera debut. Soprano Stella Zambalis, who has sung at Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, sings Floria Tosca. Tenor Alex Richardson (artist with Santa Fe Opera, Washington National Opera and Amarillo Opera) sings the role of Mario Cavaradossi. Baritone Nelson Martinez (artist with Baltimore Opera, Miami Lyric Opera and Knoxville Opera) portrays the villainous Scarpia. Bass Nathan Whitson (artist with Birmingham Opera and Lyric Opera of Kansas City) sings the role of Angelotti. Three artists most recently seen in Winter Opera’s The Mikado and The Ballad of Baby Doe also appear in the production: Tenor Anthony Heinemann as police agent Spoletta, Baritone Adam Stefo as Sciarrone, a gendarme, and Baritone Tom W. Sitzler as the Jailor. Treble Chloe Haynes, a veteran of Winter Opera’s children’s chorus, sings the role of a Shepherd Boy. Local professional singers and a children's chorus form the ensemble.

Tosca Ensemble & Children's Chorus
Baritone Nelson Martinez as Scarpia
Photo © Ron Lindsey

Tenor Alex Richardson as Mario Cavaradossi
Photo © Ron Lindsey

After staging and performing in Winter Opera’s 2012 production of La Bohème, Bass Mark Freiman will once again perform double-duty as Stage Director and portray the Sacristan. Winter Opera Music Director Steven Jarvi conducts an orchestra of local professional musicians. Megan Higgins serves as director of the Children's Chorus. Erin Waters Ryan serves as Production Stage Manager and Emily Clinger serves as Assistant Stage Manager. Jennifer Krajicek, costumer of this season’s Mikado and Baby Doe, serves as Costume Designer. Having most recently designed The Ballad of Baby Doe, Scott Loebl and Sean Savoie serve as set designer and lighting designer, respectively. Theresa Loebl serves as Production Manager.

Tosca opens tonight, Friday, March 8th (8pm) and continues Sunday, March 10th (3pm) at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School located at 425 S. Lindbergh Blvd. The production is sung in Italian with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased by calling Winter Opera Saint Louis at 314-865-0038 or online at http://winteroperastl.tix.com/ $10 Student Rush Tickets sold at the door; valid student ID required. For further information on the company, its future performances and special events, visit winteroperastl.org.