Photo Flash: Pittsburgh Opera presents TOSCA

Pittsburgh Opera opens its 79th season with Puccini's powerful Tosca, at the Benedum Center October 7th -15th.

Set in Rome, and taking place over the course of 24 hours in June of 1800, Puccini's Toscais the ultimate in opera melodrama.

Tosca combines political intrigue, love, loyalty, betrayal, and murder with powerful music to create an unforgettably operatic experience.

We are thrilled to present Leah Crocetto in the title role of Tosca. Perennial favorite Mark Delavan sings the role of Scarpia, one of the great villains not just in opera, but in the canon of Western storytelling. Tenor Thiago Arancam returns to Pittsburgh Opera after his sizzling debut in March as Prince Calaf in Puccini's Turandot.

Police chief Scarpia is hunting escaped political prisoner Cesare Angelotti. Angelotti is aided by artist Mario Cavaradossi, who is dating opera star Floria Tosca. Scarpia imprisons and tortures Cavaradossi to force Tosca to reveal Angelotti's hiding place, and has even more sadistic intentions as well. Will Tosca submit? Will Scarpia keep his end of the bargain? See for yourself whyTosca is one of the most powerful operas ever written.

Music Director AnTony Walker conducts the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Chorus in this traditional 19th-century production.

Tosca features a superlative cast, including three returning favorites:

Leah Crocetto (Floria Tosca) is making her role debut. Crocetto, who sang the role of Mimi in Pittsburgh Opera's La bohème in 2014 to great acclaim, was a Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Lauded for singing "with incredible agility and gleaming high notes" at Glimmerglass Festival 2017's The Siege of Calais, she will be singing the title role of Verdi's Aida with Washington National Opera this fall.

Mark Delavan (Police Chief Scarpia) is sought after throughout the United States and Europe for the most demanding roles in his operatic repertoire. His most recent Pittsburgh Opera performance was the title role of Verdi's Nabucco in 2015, and he also sang Scarpia the previous time Pittsburgh Opera performed Tosca, in 2012. A Metropolitan Opera veteran, Delavan is hailed for his "rich, resonant voice," with "impressively clear high notes."

Thiago Arancam (Mario Cavaradossi) returns to Pittsburgh Opera after his sizzling debut in March as Prince Calaf in Puccini's Turandot. Called "one of the greatest voices of the century", the award-winning Italian-Brazilian graduate of La Scala wowEd Pittsburgh with his performance of the Nessun dorma both on the set of Pittsburgh Today Live and at the Benedum.

On stage October 7, 10, 13 & 15, Tosca is an unforgettable way to open the opera season. Tickets start at just $12 and areavailable online.

Painter Mario Cavaradossi (Thiago Arancam) promises to aid escaped political prisoner Cesare Angelotti (Andy Berry)

Leah Crocetto makes her role debut as Tosca with Pittsburgh Opera

Opera singer Floria Tosca (Leah Crocetto) is suspicious that her lover Mario Cavaradossi (Thiago Arancam) is interested in another woman

Floria Tosca (Leah Crocetto) and Mario Cavaradossi (Thiago Arancam) share a playful moment

some pupils at the Church of Sant’ Andrea alla Valle laugh at the Sacristan’s (Matt Scollin) expense

Scarpia’s cruel henchman Spoletta (Eric Ferring) storms into the church

Sadistic police chief Baron Scarpia (Mark Delavan) and Spoletta try to beat a confession out of the church sacristan (Matt Scollin)

Floria Tosca (Leah Crocetto) does not believe Scarpia’s (Mark Delavan) allegations

Scarpia (Mark Delavan) and his cronies contemplate their next move

Baron Scarpia (Mark Delavan) boasts of his evil plan

the famous Te Deum in the Church of Sant’ Andrea alla Valle at the end of Act 1

Scarpia (Mark Delavan) attempts to intimidate Mario Cavaradossi (Thiago Arancam)

Scarpia’s cronies give Mario Cavaradossi (Thiago Arancam) the business

Scarpia (Mark Delavan) offers Tosca (Leah Crocetto) a choice: give herself to him or her lover Mario will be executed

Tosca (Leah Crocetto) prepares to stab Scarpia (Mark Delavan)

Mario Cavaradossi (Thiago Arancam) pens a farewell letter to Tosca

Mario Cavaradossi (Thiago Arancam) and Tosca (Leah Crocetto) are reunited

Mario Cavaradossi (Thiago Arancam) faces the firing squad

Tosca (Leah Crocetto) mourns Mario’s (Thiago Arancam) death

Guards move in to seize Tosca (Leah Crocetto) for Scarpia’s murder