Curious about how Napoleon’s invasion of Italy affected Rome?
Look no further.
The Mercyhurst Institute of Arts and Culture (MIAC) is broadcasting a production of “Tosca.”
MIAC will be broadcasting the opera on Feb. 17 starting at 12:55 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m.
The three-act opera was composed by Giacomo Puccini, with the libretto written by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa.
The Opera is inspired by “La Tosca,” a French play by Victorien Sardou’s.
In 1895, Puccini obtained the rights to turn the play into an opera, which took him four years.
When the opera debuted in Rome, it was immediately a success with the public, but not so much with the critics.
The opera is not for the faint of heart.
It contains depictions of torture, murder and suicide, as well as other grungy subject matter.
However, it is musically amazing.
“Tosca” is structured as a through-composed work, which means that there is music from beginning to end.
Critics have said that the arias, recitative, choruses and the other musical elements are woven seamlessly into the whole.
Puccini also used music to identity certain things on stage like characters and objects.
This use of music is called Wagnerian leitmotifs, which are short constantly recurring musical phrases associated with certain characters, objects or ideas.
The drama of the opera continues to draw audiences with powerful musical scores and intense characters.
As always, tickets are free for Mercyhurst students, $18 for an adult ticket, $15 for seniors and students of other institutions and $10 for youth.