Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca is a passionate and beautifully elegant opera, especially as presented by the Tacoma Opera Society. First mounted in January 1900, it was based on a fictitious events in Rome that happened during the Battle of Marengo, Napoleon’s conquest of Italian territories on June 17 and 18, 1800. Tosca is based on the melodrama by Victorien Sardou.

Before the production, my friend Jan Runbeck and I were toured backstage by Production Manager Theresa Kors. It was very exciting to hear the singers and musicians warming up. Every room we went into we heard and saw more of the opera magic in preparation. We even got to see Igor Vieira in the make-up chair becoming Scarpia with the magic of make-up master Make-up & Wigs Designer Evelyna Castro.