Vancouver Opera Presents Tosca

Comments 77 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Vancouver Opera presents Tosca from October 26th until November 3rd, opening its 2013-2014 season with Puccini’s last great 19th century opera. Featuring lavish sets and costumes, a magnificent chorus of more than 50 voices, and with 60 players in the orchestra pit, Tosca is a thrill for the senses.

VancouverOperaTosca

In Rome in 1800, the cruel chief of police, Baron Scarpia, is consumed with desire for Floria Tosca, the city’s most celebrated singer. Using terror, extortion, and fraud, Scarpia threatens Tosca and imprisons her revolutionary lover, Mario Cavaradossi. Before Scarpia can have his way with Tosca, she plunges a knife into his heart. In the opera’s harrowing climax, the lovers are reunited, only to be betrayed, from the grave, by the evil Scarpia.

Set in a time of political and religious upheaval, Puccini’s masterful drama paints three unforgettable portraits: the fiery, pure-hearted Tosca; the passionate political idealist Mario; and the deeply depraved Scarpia. Puccini’s score is filled with soaring melody, authentic Roman atmosphere, and spellbinding tension.

Tosca has everything a really great melodrama should have: sex, politics, and religion—a jealous diva; an artist willing to die to oppose tyranny; a depraved baron hiding a lust for dominance behind a mask of piety; love, jealousy, subterfuge, spies, violence, attempted rape, murder and betrayal. Add to that several of Puccini’s greatest arias and the luscious orchestration and it’s easy to see why Tosca has been one of the most frequently staged works in the operatic repertoire. Whoever said the opera was boring had certainly never been!

Opening night is Saturday, October 26, 2013, with subsequent performances Thursday, October 31; Friday, November 1; Saturday, November 2 at 7:30pm and a matinee performance on Sunday, November 3 at 2:00pm. All performances are at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets are available exclusively through the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre online or by telephone at (604) 683-0222.

Vancouver Opera extends a special treat to Halloween night audiences. All patrons who attend the Thursday, October 31st performance of Tosca in costume will receive $10 in “Opera Bucks”, which may be used toward the purchase of a single ticket for any remaining 2013-2014 Vancouver Opera performance.

I have a pair of tickets to give away to Tosca as well, here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to #Tosca at @VancouverOpera from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/pSHxA

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, October 21, 2013. The winner will receive a pair of tickets to Tosca on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

VancouverOpera20132014Season

Vancouver Opera 2013-2014 Season

Tickets for Vancouver Opera’s 2013-2014 season are now on sale. The season includes Tosca (opening October 26th), Albert Herring (opening November 30th), Don Giovanni (opens March 1st), and Don Carlo (opens May 3rd). Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their upcoming performances.

If you haven’t yet experienced the opera, I highly encourage you to do so. Ever since my first “Blogger Night at the Opera” (with Eugene Onegin in 2008) my appreciation has grown. The talent, voices, emotion, orchestra, and stunning sets that the Vancouver Opera manages to produce will blow you away.

Update The winner is Julian!

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77 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. SanazWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 1:39pm PDT

    I’d love to win these tickets

  2. rinoWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 1:41pm PDT

    What a great night out!

  3. taniaWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 1:42pm PDT

    Sounds like fun!

  4. LindaWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 1:43pm PDT

    Looks fabulous.

  5. ArielWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 2:27pm PDT

    Hey! Great activity!

  6. ValerieWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 2:52pm PDT

    I would love, love, love to see this. Thanks

  7. Anne GuagliardoWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 3:05pm PDT

    I never saw any opera in english (i am a frenchi from france – europe) i’d love to see one in Vancouver 🙂
    Thanks !
    Anne

  8. Norma IbarraWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 3:07pm PDT

    Would love to see an opera show for my first time!

  9. Dave LastikWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 3:18pm PDT

    I would just love this!

  10. JamesWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:22pm PDT

    Awesome

  11. IsaacWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:23pm PDT

    Baller.

  12. LauWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:26pm PDT

    Tosca!

  13. Eric James SoltysWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:30pm PDT

    It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the Vancouver Opera. Tosca would be fun.

  14. Rajbinder KaurWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:32pm PDT

    This would be a wonderful experience! thanks 🙂

  15. Brent FlinkWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:33pm PDT

    That would be a great night out! (my fingers are crossed!)

  16. KayKayWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:53pm PDT

    take me!

  17. veronicaWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:53pm PDT

    I would love tickets to Tosca. I love watching operas.

  18. Ana PerezWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 4:55pm PDT

    What a lovely opportunity…hoping for a win!

  19. ShirleyWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 5:24pm PDT

    I love watching Italian operas.

  20. TracyWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 5:25pm PDT

    This would be a fun night out!

  21. MargaretWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 5:39pm PDT

    I would love to win, and take my god daughter who has just discovered opera…

  22. LauraWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 5:54pm PDT

    Would love these tickets so I can surprise my husband who is studying music at Cap U. He is dying to go but we cant afford it at the moment. 🙂

  23. CandiceWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 5:54pm PDT

    Oh yes please! It’s time to expand my love for theatre.

  24. EmiliaWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 5:58pm PDT

    I have only been to one Opera years ago, would be thrilled to win these

  25. JulianWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 8:33pm PDT

    I would love to win these tickets!

  26. KarenWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 8:38pm PDT

    Would love to go to Tosca!

  27. NikkiWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 8:41pm PDT

    Sounds like a lovely evening !!!

  28. Dayna WilsonWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 9:36pm PDT

    I LOVE Puccini.. I did a degree in classical voice, but I never get to go to the opera these days. This would be such a nice win.

  29. cindyWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 9:36pm PDT

    would love to take my daughter!

  30. HeidiWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 10:05pm PDT

    Would love to go!

  31. vickyWednesday, October 16th, 2013 — 10:06pm PDT

    i love the Opera!

  32. SylviaThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 1:26am PDT

    All the stars are aligned! I am off work that day, and my husband actually said to me yesterday that he wished he could go to the Opera! I really hope I can win this for my sweetheart!

  33. moniqueThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 8:16am PDT

    would love to take my date here

  34. GlendaThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 8:52am PDT

    It would be a pleasure to go!

  35. DilaraThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 9:22am PDT

    I’ve never been to the opera – would love to experience this.

  36. MichelleThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 9:33am PDT

    I have never been to the opera before and this sounds like it would be an amazing experience! Thanks!

  37. Peter KhooThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 10:03am PDT

    I would love to go to the opera

  38. MichelleThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 10:42am PDT

    I would love to take my mom who will be in town!
    This will be a perfect night out for us.

  39. SharylinThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 12:44pm PDT

    This sounds like a tantalizing production

  40. vinceThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 12:54pm PDT

    I would so enjoy this!

  41. PaulaThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 1:06pm PDT

    My favourite opera !

  42. staceyThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 1:09pm PDT

    would love to go to the Opera!

  43. Alice H.Thursday, October 17th, 2013 — 2:06pm PDT

    Sounds like a great play!

  44. Bonnie RThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 3:04pm PDT

    Would love to take my Mom 🙂 !

  45. EileenThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 3:04pm PDT

    Would love to go!

  46. Lisa MartinThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 3:18pm PDT

    What a great prize! 🙂

  47. EstherThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 4:01pm PDT

    It would be a blast to watch! I LOVE operas!

  48. DBThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 4:19pm PDT

    this would be a wonderful production!

  49. J-JThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 4:21pm PDT

    I would treat my dad!

  50. Doug GrantThursday, October 17th, 2013 — 6:17pm PDT

    I’d love to win these.

  51. Olga SimonFriday, October 18th, 2013 — 10:43am PDT

    I would love to see Tosca. I enjoy listening & going to an opera.

  52. Olga S.Friday, October 18th, 2013 — 10:49am PDT

    I would love to see Tosca with my daughter. We both enjoy listening & going to an opera.

  53. WallyFriday, October 18th, 2013 — 10:51am PDT

    I would love to learn more about operas.

  54. Janet LFriday, October 18th, 2013 — 12:35pm PDT

    Wow – never been to an opera. Would love to give it a try!

  55. MandyFriday, October 18th, 2013 — 12:39pm PDT

    Would be so fun to see an opera show for my first time!

  56. Kristyl ClarkFriday, October 18th, 2013 — 3:21pm PDT

    I would LOVE to have my own Blogger night at the opera!

  57. DebraFriday, October 18th, 2013 — 3:24pm PDT

    Would love to see Tosca!

  58. JeremyFriday, October 18th, 2013 — 3:30pm PDT

    O dolci baccio languide carezze…

  59. RamonaSaturday, October 19th, 2013 — 9:00am PDT

    Would love to take my dad!

  60. MariaSaturday, October 19th, 2013 — 9:47am PDT

    This would be a great cultural treat for Vancity Girlfriends!

  61. Michelle W.Saturday, October 19th, 2013 — 11:06am PDT

    Great date night for me and my guy!

  62. ShayneSaturday, October 19th, 2013 — 1:27pm PDT

    Tos-da tickets dis way!

  63. Teresa KSaturday, October 19th, 2013 — 2:17pm PDT

    I’d love to win.

  64. lisaSaturday, October 19th, 2013 — 2:17pm PDT

    yes please, haven’t been to the opera for quite some time

  65. eileen hSaturday, October 19th, 2013 — 3:10pm PDT

    I have never seen an Opera in person, but I have been to the movie theatre to see the Met “live”. I would take my sister, who has never been either.

  66. Louise B.Saturday, October 19th, 2013 — 4:32pm PDT

    I would love, love, love to win these tickets. We had Seasons ticketsd about 10 years ago and was thrilled by every performance. I even got my husband on board. thanks.

  67. SuzyQSSaturday, October 19th, 2013 — 11:56pm PDT

    I love opera! Pick me please!

  68. DenaSunday, October 20th, 2013 — 12:34am PDT

    Please pick me. I have never been to the opera!

  69. RandySunday, October 20th, 2013 — 8:56am PDT

    Would love to see this production.

  70. EmSunday, October 20th, 2013 — 1:07pm PDT

    Can’t imagine a better Fall eve in Van.

  71. JeffSunday, October 20th, 2013 — 1:49pm PDT

    Sounds good.

  72. KatieSunday, October 20th, 2013 — 3:23pm PDT

    I’ve wanted to take my bf to an opera to show him how fabulous they are!

  73. lucSunday, October 20th, 2013 — 10:09pm PDT

    It will lovely to be able to watch the opera from an orchestra seat!

  74. erinMonday, October 21st, 2013 — 8:36am PDT

    Would love to take my new husband!

  75. tazimMonday, October 21st, 2013 — 2:36pm PDT

    I haven’t been to the opera in a few years and miss it! I would love to see this one especially.

  76. AiMonday, October 21st, 2013 — 3:02pm PDT

    Sounds great to go to this opera!

  77. CrystalFriday, October 25th, 2013 — 2:04pm PDT

    Would love to take my 17 year old daughter.

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