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New Mexico Philharmonic to honor Puccini with performance of 'Tosca'
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For the first time in its 13-year history, the New Mexico Philharmonic is producing a full-length opera.
The musicians will perform Giacomo Puccini鈥檚 鈥淭osca鈥� in honor of the 100th anniversary of the composer鈥檚 death.
The concert will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Popejoy Hall.
New Mexico Philharmonic to honor Puccini with performance of 'Tosca'
鈥淚t鈥檚 my favorite opera of all time,鈥� said Roberto Minczuk, artistic director/conductor. 鈥淧uccini is the quintessential Italian composer. Broadway is an evolution of Puccini鈥檚 opera.鈥�
The orchestra is bringing in some major singers for the performance 鈥� Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio and baritone Leonardo Neiva.
Giannattasio 鈥渞arely comes to the 近距离内射合集 States,鈥� Minczuk said. 鈥淪he is recognized as one of the best Toscas in the world. She just sang it in Rome.鈥�
Neiva is from the Vienna State Opera.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a concert not to be missed,鈥� he added.
In 1910, Puccini was the most famous musician in the world.
鈥淗e was a pop star,鈥� Minczuk said.
Premiered in 1900, 鈥淭osca鈥� tells the tragic story of Tosca Flora, the fianc茅e of the painter Cavaradossi.
鈥淗e鈥檚 in the church painting, but he is against the governor,鈥� Minczuk said. 鈥淪o he is being accused and put in jail and supposed to be executed. So he is a political prisoner.鈥�
Scarpia, the sadistic police chief and 鈥渙ne of the worst villains in all history鈥� lusts after Tosca, he added.
鈥淪he makes a deal with Scarpia that Cavaradossi is set free if she gives him what he wants,鈥� Minczuk said. 鈥淪carpia will do a make-believe execution; he will not put bullets in the guns.鈥�
Tosca hides a knife and kills her tormentor, then discovers the mock execution is real.
鈥淭he guards go after her and she jumps from the tower,鈥� Minczuk said.
鈥淭he music is so gorgeous that it deserves to be presented on its own,鈥� he added.
Puccini was a major influence on Broadway musicals, so much so that his estate sued Andrew Lloyd Webber for lifting music from the opera 鈥淭he Girl from the West鈥� for 鈥淭he Phantom of the Opera.鈥� The suit was settled out of court.
鈥淭he Girl from the West鈥� was the impetus for the spaghetti Westerns, Minczuk said.
鈥淪o Puccini is this major musical force in history.鈥�
