| London is well known for its vibrant arts scene | | | | when Tosca, convinced that Scarpia has let |
| and its year-round packed musical programme. | | | | Cavaradossi go, stabs the police chief before |
| From Camden's Roundhouse to the world famous | | | | finding out that her lover has in fact been shot, |
| Royal Albert Hall, the UK's capital is overflowing | | | | and ultimately flings herself from the Castello |
| with eclectic musical venues that attract | | | | d'Angelo's ramparts as Rome's police pursue her. |
| concert-goers from all corners of the globe. But | | | | Puccini based Tosca upon a drama by French |
| amongst the giants of London's summer musical | | | | playwright Victorien Sardou and since its premier |
| fixtures looms one well-known regular: the | | | | in Rome in 1900, it has become one of the |
| world-famous Puccini opera, Tosca. | | | | world's most performed operas. Maria Callas, the |
| Tosca has been played at the Royal Opera House | | | | original Tosca of Tosca at the Garden, is seen by |
| in London's Covent Garden every year since | | | | many opera fans to have made the role her own |
| 1964, when Italian director Franco Zeffirelli | | | | and it's possible to find footage of her powerful |
| famously adapted the opera for Maria Callas, a | | | | performance as the tragic heroine on YouTube |
| Greek-American soprano who is often referred to | | | | today. |
| as the best-known opera singer of the post | | | | Jonathan Kent's new production of Tosca sees |
| World War II period. In 2006, however, Tosca at | | | | Puccini's "shabby little shocker" with a whole new |
| the Garden (as it is now popularly known) | | | | cast, including Finnish National Opera director Mikko |
| received a revamp from the Almeida Theatre's | | | | Franck making his conducting debut. With a mix of |
| Jonathan Kent - a bold move, given that Zeffirelli's | | | | established operatic talent and new voices taking |
| version had been used for forty-two years. | | | | part, this year's Tosca at the Garden is sure to |
| The story of Tosca is set amidst the backdrop | | | | be a success. |
| of revolutionary Rome in 1800, and sees Scarpia, | | | | Moreover, with flights to London leaving most |
| a police chief, seeking an escaped prisoner called | | | | international airports daily, taking a trip to Britain's |
| Angelotti. Scarpia arrests the artist Cavaradossi, | | | | capital to see this momentous production of |
| whom he is certain has helped Angelotti escape, | | | | Tosca won't be hard if you're not a British |
| but also brings into the mix Cavaradossi's girlfriend | | | | resident. And with the Garden's 2007 season |
| - Tosca - who he thinks may have been an | | | | continuing with revivals of Rigoletto, Cosi fan tutte |
| accomplice. | | | | and all three of Wagner's Ring cycles, there's |
| Scandalously, Scarpia agrees to save | | | | much more to come from London's centre of |
| Cavaradossi's life if Tosca allows him to have his | | | | operatic art. |
| way with her. However, the tragic ending comes | | | | |