Reviving one of ENO’s most popular productions of recent years, Catherine Malfitano returns to ENO with her production of Tosca. Critically acclaimed when it was first staged in 2010, Claire Rutter leads an exemplary cast in this rousing and insightful version of one of Puccini’s best-loved operas, conducted by Stephen Lord.

Once dubbed a ‘shabby little shocker’, the overwhelming present-day popularity of Puccini'sTosca rests on its real locations, brilliant characterisations, tense drama and thrilling music, set against the historical background of Napoleon's struggle to dominate Italy. Star-crossed lovers Cavaradossi and Tosca become embroiled in one of opera’s most celebrated tales of passion, political corruption, sexual intimidation and deceit. When Cavaradossi agrees to harbour a fugitive and Tosca leads his greatest enemy right to them, she must fashion a plan to save her love’s life. Bargaining her body for his release, a murderous plot leads to heart-breaking tragedy at every turn.

Catherine Malfitano’s classically inspired and visually stunning reimagining of Tosca was described by The Telegraph as ‘an intelligent and forceful interpretation’. Catherine Malfitano, one of the leading Toscas of recent decades, has performed at all the world’s leading opera houses, including La Scala, Milan and the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Reunited with her original creative team - celebrated German set designer Frank Philip Schössmann and costume designer Gideon Davey, Malfitano brings her fabulous production back to the London Coliseum.

Recently singled out as ‘the only British soprano with all the thrills and spills for Tosca’ Claire Rutter takes the lead role. Rutter has developed into a major artist through ENO with critically acclaimed performances in Aida, Rigoletto and Lucrezia Borgia, among others. Following celebrated ENO performances in revivals of Jonathan Miller’s Rigoletto and La bohème, Stephen Lord conducts this first revival. Lord, who is a Music Director of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, was recently named as Artistic Director of Opera Studies at the New England Conservatory.

Gwyn Hughes Jones’ performances at ENO include Calaf in Rupert Goold’s Turandot and Pinkerton in Anthony Minghella’s award-winning Madam Butterfly. Most recently, he sang the role of Rodolfo in the revival of Jonathan Miller’s La bohème.  He returns to ENO to sing the role of Cavaradossi, a role he recently sang in Joseph Kerman’s production for Washington National Opera. Leading baritone Anthony Michaels-Moore returns to sing the role of Baron Scarpia after his success in 2010.

The rest of the cast is made up of Matthew Hargreaves as Angelotti, Henry Waddington as a Sacristan, Scott Davies as Spoletta and Graeme Danby as Sciarrone.

Tosca opens at the London Coliseum on 26 November for 8 performances – 26, 28, 30 November, December 2 & January 17, 21, 24 at 7.30pm and January 29 at 3pm.

Pre-performance talk, Wednesday November 30 5.30-6.15pm, £5

London Coliseum tour pre-performance, Saturday 21 January; tours start at 2.30pm, £10 per person

Original production supported by ENO’s Women in Opera syndicate

Notes to Editors:

For further press information please contact: