Tosca

Set in Rome during the Napoleonic Wars, 'Tosca' tells the story of the passionate opera singer Tosca, who becomes entangled in a deadly game of political intrigue. Her lover, the painter Cavaradossi, is aiding a fugitive, leading to his arrest by the ruthless Baron Scarpia. Tosca must make a terrible choice to save Cavaradossi, a choice that ultimately leads to tragedy for all involved.

The 2014 Metropolitan Opera production of Puccini's 'Tosca,' directed by Jonathan Kent, was generally well-received for its stellar cast and powerful performances. Critics often highlighted the vocal prowess of Sondra Radvanovsky as Tosca and Roberto Alagna as Cavaradossi, noting their dramatic intensity. While the production itself was solid, some reviews focused more on the individual performances than the staging.

• Praised for the commanding vocal performances of the leads.

• Sondra Radvanovsky's portrayal of Tosca was a standout.

• The production offered a compelling, if traditional, staging of the opera.

Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for this particular 2014 production is not readily available.

The famous 'Vissi d'arte' aria sung by Tosca was originally intended to be a tenor aria, but Puccini later decided it would be more effective as a soprano aria.