Tosca
by Austin Opera

Apr. 29 - May. 01, 2021
Thursday, Saturday

Start your engines!

Austin Opera returns to live performance

with an innovative outdoor production of

 

Puccini’s Tosca

at Circuit of the Americas,

Austin’s Formula 1 racetrack 

April 29 and May 1, 2021

More than 125 local musicians, artisans, and technical personnel will return to work to bring Tosca to life at the

Germania Insurance Amphitheater

 Starring Latonia Moore, Adam Smith, and Aleksey Bogdanov

in their Austin Opera debuts 

Timothy Myers leads the Austin Opera Orchestra and Chorus in an original production directed by David Lefkowich

 

Tosca is one of opera’s most popular and enduring classics, and returns to the Austin Opera stage for the first time since 2014. The first act’s booming finale, the “Te Deum,” will have a unique visual complement in Austin’s stunning sunset, adding ethereal power to the full force of the Austin Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The second act’s most anticipated moment is Tosca’s “Vissi d’arte,” one of the most famous arias in all of opera, in which Tosca reflects on art, love, and faith as she reaches the most pivotal crossroads of her life. In the final act, Cavaradossi will sing his signature salute to the stars, “E lucevan le stelle,” under the blanket of stars in Austin’s evening sky. And in the opera’s thrilling finale, Tosca will make the ultimate leap of faith in a moment of staging not to be missed in this site-specific production.

Austin Opera today announces the company’s much-anticipated return to live performance with an innovative outdoor staging of Puccini’s Tosca at one of the most exciting venues in Austin: Germania Insurance Amphitheater at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the city’s Formula 1 racetrack located just 15 miles outside the downtown core. The two performances are set for Thursday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. and will feature the Austin Opera Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Timothy Myers, the company’s Sarah and Ernest Butler Principal Conductor & Artistic Advisor. David Lefkowich (2018’s La traviata) will direct the massive outdoor production, which will employ more than 125 local artists and stage crew who have been out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We are so excited to return to our central mission of providing a fantastic live music experience to the people of Austin, and we are proud to give employment to the many hard-working musicians and artisans and stage personnel who are part of our artistic family,” says Austin Opera General Director & CEO Annie Burridge. “We are working closely with local officials to ensure a safe and healthy experience for people on both sides of the curtain. We are grateful to Frederick S. Addy for underwriting our partnership with Circuit of the Americas, which is making this monumental endeavor possible, to Eva Womack for underwriting the production, and to all our patrons who have championed and sustained us during this challenging year. I can’t wait to wave that green flag and welcome our loyal audiences to the racetrack!”

Making their Austin Opera debuts in Tosca are a trio of important international artists. A recent Opera News cover star, soprano Latonia Moore is Tosca, the fiery diva caught in the crossfire of love. A native of Houston, Moore has recently sang Tosca at Washington National Opera, Opera Australia, and in Rouen, France. Tenor Adam Smith makes his role debut as the heroic Cavaradossi, and baritone Aleksey Bogdanov is the evil Scarpia. Texas singers take on many of the opera’s supporting roles—a complete cast list is below.

“To welcome audiences, performers, staff and crew back—with one of opera’s classic works—is a wonderful spring gift. We are delighted to host Tosca ‘under the stars,’ are grateful to the Austin Opera for making it happen, and look forward to a fun night,” says COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein.

Feature by Michael Barnes, Austin360.com, April 22, 2021

 

Cast

Tosca                                                   Latonia Moore*

Cavaradossi                                         Adam Smith*

Scarpia                                                 Aleksey Bogdanov*

Spoletta                                              Evan K. Brown

Sacristan                                             Philip Cokorinos

Angelotti/Jailer                                   William Guanbo Su*

Sciarrone                                             Austin Siebert

 

Creative Team

Conductor                                           Timothy Myers

Stage Director                                     David Lefkowich

Scenic Design                                      Tim Mackabee*

Lighting Design                                   Thomas Hase

Wig and Make-up Design                   Melanie Steele

Audio Design                                       Bill Mester

Assistant Director                               Rebecca Herman

Production Stage Manager                 Kathleen Edwards

 

*Austin Opera Debut

 

Tosca is presented with major support from Frederick S. Addy and Eva Womack.

 

About Austin Opera

Serving Central Texas since 1986, Austin Opera inspires audiences with its trademark blend of innovation and artistic excellence. With the leadership of General Director & CEO Annie Burridge and the Sarah and Ernest Butler Principal Conductor & Artistic Advisor Timothy Myers, Austin Opera presents a curated season of grand opera productions at the Long Center, the crown jewel of Austin performing arts venues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company expanded its local footprint with the Sarah and Ernest Butler Performance Series at the Blue Starlite Drive-In and digitally in partnership with Houston Grand Opera, its forthcoming production of Tosca at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack, and with a robust schedule of engaging online performances, including its long-running Live from Indy Terrace series. And with its Opera ATX initiative, the company also presents eclectic and groundbreaking performances online and at unique spaces throughout the city, taking advantage of the deep well of Austin’s diverse artistic talent. Austin Opera is also a force in hundreds of classrooms across Central Texas, nurturing the next generation of opera audiences through its award-winning education programs.

 

 

---

Tosca
by Giacomo Puccini
Austin Opera

Thursday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m.

 

Tosca

An opera in 3 acts

Music by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Based on Victorien Sardou’s 1887 French-language dramatic play La Tosca

Sung in Italian with projected English titles

Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 25-minute intermission

Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Circuit of the Americas

9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard

Del Valle, Texas 78617

 

What Audiences Can Expect at Germania Insurance Amphitheater at COTA

Health and Safety

Austin Opera’s union agreements and artist contracts require social distancing and masks throughout the venue. The safety of our artists, patrons, and staff is paramount.

All ticket holders will need to complete a pre-performance health questionnaire prior to arrival at COTA. At the ticket gates, patrons will be subject to temperature checks, security screening, and bag check, pursuant with COTA’s entry policies.

 

Seating

Seating in COTA’s Germania Insurance Amphitheater will be reserved in a socially distanced manner by section. Ticket holders will be seated with at least two seats between groups, and every other row will be empty to allow for social distancing. The seating plan will continue to be contingent upon government orders and health and safety orders, and exact seat locations will be assigned pursuant to those guidelines.

 

Food and Beverage

Food and beverage will be available for purchase through COTA’s concessionaire RS3 and will include the usual racetrack fare. Food and beverage may be brought into the seating area of the amphitheater. Masks will be required of all patrons at all times unless actively eating or drinking.

No outside food or beverage or tailgating is permitted.

 

Parking

Free and ample parking in COTA’s Lot H is included with all tickets. Limited upgraded parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis for $20 in Lots B, C, and D. Frequent open-air shuttles will also be available to whisk patrons from each parking lot to the box office and venue entrance. A map of the parking lots at COTA can be found at austinopera.org/tosca.

Parking lots and the box office will open at 5:00 p.m. The gates open at 6:00 p.m. prior to the curtain time of 7:30 p.m.

 

Projected English Titles

English titles will be visible from all seats in all sections and will be projected onto the massive screens on each side of the stage. These screens will also show a close-up view of the action on the stage.

Accessibility

The Germania Insurance Amphitheater at the Circuit of The Americas maintains accessible seating in various sections, as well as accessible shuttles, restrooms, and parking. For complete information regarding ADA accessibility, please visit http://germaniaamp.com/venue/ada-accessibility

 

Inclement Weather Policy

If there needs to be a cancellation or postponement of either performance, we will communicate all pertinent information with ticket holders via email by 3 p.m. on the day of the event. Rain dates are April 30 and May 2.

 

Ticket Information

Tickets for Tosca at the Circuit of the Americas start at $39 and are available now at austinopera.org. Tickets include free parking in COTA’s Lot H; upgraded parking is available at the time of ticket purchase or on site on the day of the performance, pending availability.

 

Any questions? Please call 512-472-5992 or e-mail tickets@austinopera.org.