About this Production of "Tosca"

Mercury Opera Rochester closes its fourth successful season with Puccini’s Tosca.  This gala production is a fitting celebration of Puccini’s 150th birthday less than a month earlier.  Benton Hess, Mercury Artistic Director, will conduct the Rochester Philharmonic for this musical favorite.  Stage director David Bartholomew has planned a traditional production set in 1800, the year that Napoleon invaded Italy.

Jill Gardner returns to Rochester in the title role of Floria Tosca.  Mercury audiences will remember her recent spectacular performances last season as Mimi in La Bohème and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni.  Gardner has also wowed audiences at Glimmerglass Opera, Syracuse Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and Boston Lyric Opera.

Jake Gardner returns to the Mercury stage as Scarpia.  Audiences will remember his moving performance as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly in Mercury’s inaugural season.  Since appearing in Rochester, he has performed with Hawaii Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Glimmerglass Opera.

Jill and Jake, husband and wife in real life, love the opportunity to work together and are planning some real fireworks in their scenes together.

Making his debut in Rochester as Mario Cavaradossi is tenor Dinyar Vania.  Mr. Vania’s rich lyric voice makes him one of the America’s most exciting new talents.  His previous engagements include New York City Opera, Dallas Opera, Sacramento Opera, Madison Opera, Syracuse Opera, and Knoxville Opera.

Joining the cast are favorites John Davies as the Sacristan and the Jailer, John Buffett as Angelotti, and Robert Strauss as Spoletta.  The Bach Children’s Choir and Mercury Opera Chorus will perform Puccini’s stunning choral music in this much beloved opera.

Click here for the story and history of Puccini's "Tosca."