Under the skillful baton of Dmitri Jurowski, the love story of a painter and an opera singer against corruption is magnificently actualized. The startling visual caused the woman behind me to start babbling nervously until she was shushed.Īlthough the set adds to the aesthetic, this lush Puccini’s opera could be sung in someone’s basement and still be equally evocative. In the final act, the gaping hole takes on a disquieting function. Although the interior is filled or emptied of content depending on the location, the point of focus in all three acts is this gaping hole in the ceiling.

The delicate satin contrasts Christie’s massive fortress framework that serves as the shell for a church, apartment, and roof.

In the first few moments of each act, the curtain is whisked away with a billowing flourish. The variation in color on the fabric mirrors the action as the red is overpowered by the blackness. Scenic and Costume Designer Bunny Christie introduces each of the three acts with a different painted silk curtain. TOSCA is being mounted with a new production co-produced by the Lyric and Houston Grand Opera. I reviewed the principals for the January 24th- February 5th performances. The Lyric is presenting this Puccini favorite in an extended run featuring two different casts.

Tosca lyric opera