Tosca, The London Coliseum - London Theatre Tickets

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A fast-moving story of torture, murder and attempted rape, Puccini's Tosca is a tense political and sexual thriller set in Rome at the time of Napoleon's invasion of Italy. Directed by celebrated American soprano Catherine Malfitano - herself one of the leading Toscas of recent decades - this production is conducted by Stephen Lord, following his acclaimed ENO performances in revivals of Jonathan Miller's Rigoletto and La boheme. Recently singled out as 'the only British soprano with all the requisite vocal thrills and spills for Tosca' (Sunday Times) and praised earlier this year for her 'glorious display of bel canto' (Daily Telegraph) as ENO's Lucrezia Borgia, Claire Rutter assumes the role of the temperamental diva, alongside Anthony Michaels-Moore as the sadistic police chief Scarpia.

Puccini's tragic tale of lust, power and betrayal returns to London's Coliseum...

SILVIO BERLUSCONI may have captured recent headlines with tales of his increasingly lurid grip on power, but the ex-Italian PM's seedy shenanigans pale in comparison to those of Puccini's pantomime villain Baron Scarpia.

The return of Tosca to the Coliseum is thus a welcome and timely reminder that Rome is no stranger to rulers fiddling while the eternal city burns. Set in the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Puccini's opera is a whistle stop tour through the travails of lust, power and betrayal.

This production, directed by American soprano Catherine Malfitano and performed in English, conveys the tragic descent into despair powerfully and eloquently. With simple, yet evocative sets and stand out performances from Claire Rutter in the title role, Gwyn Hughes Jones as her lover Cavaradossi and Anthony Michaels-Moore as her police chief nemesis Scarpia, the arena is drenched in an oppressive clamour of deceit and mutual doom.

And yet, in amidst the tragedies unfolding before us - then as now - is the lesson that true strength comes in honour and love.

Peter Clee, 30 November 2011

"A study in the sexuality of power and the psychopathology of evil."
Tim Ashley, The Guardian, 27 November 2011

"With Rutter in terrific form, musical and dramatic elements cohere in one of the most gripping Toscas seen in London for many a year."
Barry Millington, London Evening Standard, 28 November 2011

Venue: The London Coliseum, St Martin's LaneLondon, WC2N 4ES.

Directions: Take the Northern or Piccadilly line to Leicester Square station

Performances:
- Matinees: .
- Evenings: Various dates and times.

Book Until: Sunday, 29th January 2012