Historisk samarbeid om moderne Tosca
Audiences from Kristiansand in the south to Tromsø in the north will have the opportunity to experience the brand-new production of Puccini’s timeless classic.
– I’ve wanted to stage *Tosca* for a long time. Then, as luck would have it, both Espen Langvik at the Northern Norwegian Opera and Symphony Orchestra (NOSO) and Karl Bøe Skogen at Opera Rogaland were looking for a partner to collaborate on a major production. And both of them wanted to stage *Tosca*!
Opera Director Frøydis Lind is beaming. She is very pleased with the collaborative model, which ensures that the production will be both larger and better than any of the opera companies could have achieved on their own. The NOSO director is also proud.
“It’s important to emphasize that this is a genuine collaboration and has been so from day one. Together, we’ve put together a creative team. At the same time, each location will have its own local character,” says Langvik.
Power, honor, desire, and revenge are the central themes of Giacomo Puccini’s opera. Tosca was composed between the spring of 1898 and October 1899 and premiered in January 1900. The story is set in Rome in the year 1800, when the Kingdom of Naples ruled with an iron fist. The three opera directors, however, have chosen to set the story in the present day, with period costumes by Anette Werenskiold, modern set design by Dagny Drage Kleiva, and young, outstanding singers in the roles. The director is Ingrid Forthun, former artistic director of Kilden, known as an uncompromising and deeply musical artist. The renowned Peter Szilvay has been brought in as conductor.
“He’s a real find for us. He’s passionately committed to the interaction between the stage and the orchestra pit, and has a temperament that suits *Tosca*. He also knows the orchestras well,” says Lind.
The Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and the Kristiansand Opera Chorus Kilden , of course, Kilden performing alongside the cast during the performances at Kilden . Here, the role of the shepherd boy will be shared by two local young talents: Florian Almedal Sillitoe and Sebastian Sjåstad Overå. The choir will be reinforced by a professional vocal ensemble consisting of 16 singers from Kilden , Vocal Art, and Vokal Nord, who will accompany the production.performing arts centre Kilden performing arts centre for the production of costumes, set design, and props, and this is also where the premiere will take place on September 8. After seven performances, the production will travel north to Bodø, Harstad, and Tromsø, before moving on to Sandnes Kulturhus.
“Co-producing in this way allows for both efficient use of resources and insight into the working methods of other opera companies. It’s a valuable learning experience for us,” says Lind. Langvik agrees.
“What we’re part of now is the beginning of the future. Together, we can join forces to make it easier to produce opera,” he concludes.
Text: Kristin Øygarden
Photo:Terje Sollie
The Opera Director's Recommendation
If you’re going to see one opera before you die, Tosca is the one you should choose!
Drama, passion, and fabulous music make Puccini’s opera thriller one of the truly great operas—and opera experiences.
The plot is both brutal and gruesome, featuring scenes of torture and murder. But it also tells the story of how far one is willing to go for true love, and of staying true to oneself and one’s ideals.
Musically, *Tosca* is structured as a through-composed work featuring arias, recitatives, and choral sections—seamlessly woven together into a musical whole.
Tosca also features some of Puccini’s most famous lyrical arias.
Frøydis Lind
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