The opera Tosca, which was premiered at the Constanzi Theatre, Rome in 1900, is known as one of Puccini’s three most successful operas of the early 20^th century. From June 13^th to 18^th, the opera Tosca, a Co-production of the NCPA, Shanghai Opera House and Shaanxi Opera House, will appear as a blockbuster at the NCPA Opera Festival 2023. Under the baton of conductor XU Zhong, President of the Shanghai Opera House, Italian soprano Monica Zanettin, Italian baritone Ambrogio Maestri, and famous soprano SUN Xiuwei, who enjoys a high reputation on the international opera stage, as well as outstanding singers HAN Peng, WANG Chong and ZHANG Yang, will join hands with the China NCPA Chorus and Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra to form an A-list lineup to endow this classic masterpiece with new artistic charm.

On May 30^th, a press conference was held for the opera. ZHAO Tiechun, Vice President of the NCPA, XU Zhong, conductor and President of the Shanghai Opera House, along with the main cast of this new version of Tosca all appeared and shared highlights of the production.

In 2022, the NCPA reached cooperation with the Shanghai Opera House and Shaanxi Opera House under the spiritual framework of the Beijing Forum for Performing Arts (BFPA) and jointly formed a creative team composed of Chinese and foreign artists experienced in opera production and rehearsal, co-producing the world’s classic opera Tosca. The new version was premiered online in December 2022, when the NCPA was celebrating its 15^th anniversary with a streaming week. The performance has gained more than 20 million total clicks on the whole platforms. From February 24^th to 26^th, the opera was staged at the Shanghai Opera House. After its NCPA round this time, it will be put on at the Shaanxi House Opera, the last stop on its three-city tour.

This version was directed by the renowned opera director Alessandra Panzavolta, who worked with the world’s top set designer William Orlandi in designing new stage scenery and props, interpreting this classic work anew from a contemporary perspective.

Top artists from at home and abroad have been invited for the opera. The Italian soprano Monica Zanettin will play the heroine Tosca in the opera. The “arch-villain” Scarpia will be portrayed by the Italian baritone Ambrogio Maestri, who is one of the most popular baritones on the international stage. In addition, the internationally acclaimed soprano SUN Xiuwei, who appeared at the new version of Tosca’s premiere last December, will sing Tosca again. Two outstanding tenors - HAN Peng, a soloist from the Shanghai Opera House, and WANG Chong, one of the NCPA Resident Singers, will continue to portray the hero Cavaradossi, who is passionate and has a political ideal. The baritone ZHANG Yang, who is also one of the NCPA Resident Singers, will continue to play the role of Scarpia, an insidious guy.