New Mexico Philharmonic to honor Puccini with performance of 'Tosca'

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’s “Tosca” in honor of the 100th anniversary of the composer’s 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'

“It’s my favorite opera of all time,” said Roberto Minczuk, artistic director/conductor. “Puccini is the quintessential Italian composer. Broadway is an evolution of Puccini’s opera.”

The orchestra is bringing in some major singers for the performance — Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio and baritone Leonardo Neiva.

Giannattasio “rarely comes to the United States,” Minczuk said. “She is recognized as one of the best Toscas in the world. She just sang it in Rome.”

Neiva is from the Vienna State Opera.

“It’s really a concert not to be missed,” he added.

In 1910, Puccini was the most famous musician in the world.

“He was a pop star,” Minczuk said.

Premiered in 1900, “Tosca” tells the tragic story of Tosca Flora, the fiancée of the painter Cavaradossi.

“He’s in the church painting, but he is against the governor,” Minczuk said. “So he is being accused and put in jail and supposed to be executed. So he is a political prisoner.”

Scarpia, the sadistic police chief and “one of the worst villains in all history” lusts after Tosca, he added.

“She makes a deal with Scarpia that Cavaradossi is set free if she gives him what he wants,” Minczuk said. “Scarpia will do a make-believe execution; he will not put bullets in the guns.”

Tosca hides a knife and kills her tormentor, then discovers the mock execution is real.

“The guards go after her and she jumps from the tower,” Minczuk said.

“The music is so gorgeous that it deserves to be presented on its own,” 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 “The Girl from the West” for “The Phantom of the Opera.” The suit was settled out of court.

“The Girl from the West” was the impetus for the spaghetti Westerns, Minczuk said.

“So Puccini is this major musical force in history.”