Tosca

A political thriller filled with suspense from the first to the last measure: A painter, a famous singer and the powerful police chief of Rome passionately chase each other through a jungle of love, faith, betrayal and murder.

The singer Tosca loves the painter Cavaradossi, who has helped the former Republican consul Angelotti to escape and has thus made an enemy of the equally powerful and sadistic police chief Scarpia. Scarpia confronts Tosca with an impossible choice that is her only chance to save Cavaradossi. She surpasses herself, but Scarpia is even cleverer in his scheming …

Inspired by Victorien Sardou’s play of the same name, Puccini created a masterpiece that is remarkable for its multi-layered characters, in terms of both psychology and music. Puccini’s “Tosca” is more scenic in its composition than most operas. In keeping with the style of verismo, the work does not focus on mythological figures or royal love stories but rather on real settings, everyday milieus and human depravity.

Accompanied by Puccini’s music, the graphic artist Thomas Wizany creates images for the semi-staged production at the Great Festival Hall that are intended to creatively enrich the audience’s musical enjoyment and to stimulate their imagination in a powerful manner.

Puccini’s (1858–1924) opera thriller saw its world premiere in Rome in 1900 and is considered a prime example of verismo, a style that revolutionised Italian opera between 1890 and 1920. Puccini had a profound impact on music history with his dramatic and deeply emotional works. His operas combine gripping plots and memorable melodies with innovative orchestral techniques.

Together with the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra and the opera ensemble, Carlo Benedetto Cimento, Principal Conductor at the Salzburg State Theatre, presents Puccini’s masterpiece at the Great Festival Hall in a semi-staged production that makes it possible to focus on the manifold layers of music in great concentration. The production is directed and designed by Thomas Mika, supported by drawings by Thomas Wizany.

Book Your Tickets Now!

program

Tosca
Giacomo Puccini
In italienischer Sprache mit deutschen und englischen Übertiteln
Melodramma in drei Akten · Libretto von Giuseppe Giacosa und Luigi Illica
nach dem Drama „La Tosca“ von Victorien Sardou · halbszenische Aufführung

Place

Großes Festspielhaus Salzburg – A Prestigious Venue for World-Class Events

The Großes Festspielhaus Salzburg is one of Austria’s most renowned event venues, internationally acclaimed for its exceptional acoustics, architecture, and atmosphere. Located in the heart of Salzburg’s Old Town, it was inaugurated in 1960 and has since been the main stage for the world-famous Salzburg Festival. With an impressive stage and a seating capacity of over 2,100 guests, the venue is perfect for operas, classical concerts, ballet performances, theater productions, and high-profile gala events.

Designed by Clemens Holzmeister, the building’s elegant architecture seamlessly blends modern and historic elements, creating a breathtaking setting for unforgettable cultural experiences. Hosting some of the world’s greatest classical musicians, orchestras, and prestigious productions, the Großes Festspielhaus is a must-visit destination for culture lovers.

Getting There by Public Transport

The Großes Festspielhaus is centrally located in Salzburg and easily accessible by public transportation:

Trolleybus (Obus):

• Lines 1, 10, 22, 23 (stop Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz) – directly next to the venue
• Lines 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 25 (stop Mönchsbergaufzug) – a short walk away

• Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) – about 15 minutes by trolleybus (lines 1, 3, 5, 6, 25)

• Parking is available at the Mönchsberg Garage, which offers direct access to the Festspielhaus.