Tosca

1 Review

The splendour of Rome. The devastation of war. Puccini’s operatic thriller returns in an epic new production.  As the first collaboration between Mears – the Royal Ballet & Opera director of opera – and its new music director Jakub Hrůša, as well as RBO’s first new production of Tosca in almost 20 years this is a high-stakes production.

Mears’ Rome is a (slightly drab) 20th-century war zone. The chapel’s sacristan clears rubbish into a plastic bin bag; Cavaradossi is part of a restoration effort. The police chief Scarpia is an oleaginous CEO (1970s double-breasted suit, combover and a constant, fidgeting need to wipe his hands) with late-20th-century surveillance equipment and a team of thugs.

Run Time Icon
Run Time

3 hours

Dates Icon
Dates

From: September 11th, 2025
Until: October 7th, 2025

Genre Icon
Age

14+

Category
  • Opera
RECOMMENDED BY

Not yet recommended

What our culture curators are saying

Tosca isn’t my favourite but this new production directed by Oliver Mears was absolutely superb. It helps that Anna Netrebko was starring (and my god did she star) but the set design, costumes, staging and lighting is what made it...

Share a commentWe’d love to hear your thoughts

RECENTLY REVIEWED

Melodrama Must-See
GIANT
New York

“I was lucky enough to see this at The Royal Court and it was unforgettable. John Lithgow transforms into a complex, curmudgeonly Roald Dahl and leaves you with your jaw on the floor by the play's end. Sophisticated in its writing, Giant is deceptively witty, haunting and timely.”