The internationally celebrated production was first seen in 1980 and has since been enjoyed by audiences around the world, having been “borrowed” by opera houses as far afield as America, New Zealand and Spain.

Originally directed by master storyteller Anthony Besch, Tosca will be revived by Jonathan Cocker. In the early stages of his career Cocker worked with Besch, who he regards as a great influence.

Updated from the Napoleonic times in which it was first set by Puccini to the shadows of Mussolini’s brutal regime in 1940s Rome, the production was intricately researched and is striking in its faithful reproduction of Roman landmarks.

Tosca will be conducted by Scottish Opera’s Music Director Francesco Corti.

Francesco Corti said, ‘Tosca is pure Puccini. The score goes from tenderness to huge tension – it is big and dramatic with so much passion and absolutely drives the action on stage. Part of the reason Tosca is so real is that Puccini did not have to imagine where the opera takes place – in the church, the jail, Scarpia’s office – he already could see them before his eyes and wrote the music very much to make the most of them. It is little wonder it is still so popular.’

Critically acclaimed for the title role in Opera North’s 2009 production, Susannah Glanville portrays tragic opera diva Tosca, with Spanish tenor José Ferrero as noble artist and lover Cavaradossi and Robert Poulton as the scheming Chief of Police Baron Scarpia.  Scottish Opera regulars Paul Carey Jones and David Morrison and Emerging Artists Ross McInroy and Marie Claire Breen complete the cast along with a chorus of 41 and other characters including the King and Queen of Italy, a Cardinal and Mussolini himself.

The Company will also present Tosca Unwrapped, an hour long, free introduction to both Tosca and opera. Presented on an alternative night to performances, Unwrapped gives new audiences and interested opera attendees a fascinating chance to get a glimpse behind the scenes, with singers and The Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

Tosca opens at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow on 4 May and tours to Inverness, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, until 9 June.  Tosca is sung in Italian with English supertitles. Running time is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.

Eden Court, Inverness

Thu 17 May & Sat 19 May*+,7.15pm

Tosca Unwrapped  Fri 18 May 6pm

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Thu 7 & Sat 9 Jun*+, 7.30pm

Tosca Unwrapped Fri 8 June, 6pm

Source: Scottish Opera