Tosca

A brief introduction:

All Rome trembles under the iron fist of Scarpia, the sadistic chief of police. He lusts for the beautiful diva Tosca, but she defies him – risking everything for love. Her fiercely-fought battle ends in betrayal and tragedy; in a corrupt world, love is no match for tyranny.

Tosca is a political thriller – a story painted in black and white and blood. Seducing audiences since its 1900 premiere, Puccini’s opera is all action and emotion, a musical melodrama that sweeps you along as it plunges inexorably towards tragedy. Romance meets revenge in one of the opera’s most passionate scores.

In this short video, soprano Natalya Romaniw discusses her upcoming role and performs a a short piece from the beautiful aria ‘Vissi d’arte’:

Why not to miss it:

This is the first Tosca in Glyndebourne history – the first chance to hear this much-loved Puccini classic in our intimate auditorium with the London Philharmonic Orchestra – one of the great British orchestras – in the pit. It’s also a first for Glyndebourne Music Director Robin Ticciati, who conducts this powerfully dramatic piece, as well as a Festival debut from exciting American director Ted Huffman.

A great moment to look out for:

In Act I of Tosca we meet Tosca herself – flirtatious, capricious, jealous at the slightest provocation. But in Act II we meet her all over again, no longer a coquettish girl but a woman facing the darkest hour of her life: ardent, poised, devastatingly sincere. Her outpouring has become one of opera’s most famous arias – a showcase for all the great sopranos from Maria Callas to Leontyne Price.

Tosca is cornered, faced with an impossible choice between her own rape and the death of her beloved. Vissi d’arte stops time, stepping out of the frenzied action into a prayer that starts in defeat – numb, drooping, fragile – but soon swells into a great Puccini melody, rising to an impassioned climax: defiance and goodness in the face of despair.

In this Organ Room Session Natalya Romaniw performs Vissi d’arte accompanied by Jack Redman:

Cast and creative team:

Two casts offering an appealing blend of new talent and big names will be tackling Glyndebourne’s first ever Tosca, bookending the season in two separate runs. Glyndebourne Music Director Robin Ticciati will conduct the first cast and the second cast will be conducted by Canadian Jordan de Souza.

The title role is shared by rising-star American soprano Caitlin Gotimer, a former Operalia finalist who makes her UK debut and Natalya Romaniw, whose recent Royal Opera Tosca was hailed by The Times as ‘sumptuously sung’

Two familiar tenors – Matteo Lippi and Atalla Ayan – return to the Festival as Cavaradossi.

Vladislav Sulimsky and American debut artist Alfred Walker sing the role of Scarpia.

To find out more about production support for Festival 2026 click here
or contact our Director of Development, Helen McCarthy for an informal chat:
call 01273 013 308 or email helen.mccarthy@glyndebourne.com