Technical Details: Interactive Menu in 2 Languages Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1.+ Digital Stereo Region Code: 0 Picture Format: 4:3 Specials: Puccini Documentary (35 min)   Running Time: ca.120 min.   Order No: 60055 Giacomo Puccini Tosca Soloists: Stefka Evstatieva, Vyacheslav Polozov, Cornelios Opthof a.o. Orchestra: The Canadian Opera Company Conductor: Richard Bradshaw “Tosca” is a tragic tale of love, intrigue and betrayal set in the Napoleonic Rome of 1800, a highly successful collaboration of composer Puccini and librettists Illica and Giacosa. It was first produced in Rome in January 1900. The libretto is an adaptation of Sardou’s famous tragedy, the main facts are said to have a historical basis. There were fierce political tensions in Italy at the time and rumours spread that a bomb might be thrown at the premiere. Queen Margherita of Italy was present in a glittering if understandably nervous audience which demanded encores of “Vissi d'arte” and “E lucevan le stele” and gave the performance a polite if not outstandingly warm reception. The opera was a success at the box office, but the critics generally turned thumbs down on it, finding its sadism and scenes of attempted rape and physical and mental torture repulsive. Nevertheless - the general reaction was highly enthusiastic and has remained so until today. In the performance documented on this DVD, Bulgarian soprano Stefka Evstatieva is Tosca, the tempestuous opera singer whose stormy romance with artist Cavaradossi leads to violence, deceit and death. Joining Stefka Evstatieva as Tosca are Canadian baritone Cornelis Opthof as the evil Baron Scarpia and Russian Tenor Vyacheslav Polozov as Cavaradossi. As special feature the DVD contains a 35 minute feature film documentary on life and times of Giacomo Puccini.