By Dave Read, July 19, 2025 performance – Tonight’s performance of an opera in three acts, Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini, was as riveting and satisfying an experience as I’ve ever had at a concert. It was performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and leading vocalists from the world of opera, under the direction of music director Andris Nelsons, with James Burton conducting the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (TFC) and students from Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute (BUTI).
Whether it’s a genetic flaw or environmental damage, I don’t know, but the “drama” at the core of opera, movies, and TV shows never has been of more than secondary interest to me. When I do attend (or view on screen), I’m in for the spectacle, for the sights and sounds. Whatever literal sense the story means to convey is OK with me, so long as it delights the eyes and ears. That tonight’s was a rare treat for the audience is underscored by the fact that tonight was only the second performance in the orchestra’s 144 year history!
The principle operatic roles were played by soprano Kristine Opolais as Tosca, baritone Bryn Terfel as Scarpia, and tenor SoekJong Baek as Cavaradossi. Even though I couldn’t help but follow along with the supertitles, for all intents and purposes, I had no idea what these artists were so exercised about, but I believed every perfectly sounded syllable they produced. Even though I knew Scarpia was the bad guy, he sounded exactly like the kind of guy you want running the country.
As electrifying as was the finale of the opera, I was nearly overwhelmed by the final several minutes of Act 1, which included the TFC and BUTI, who had seemingly infiltrated the orchestra. Whether or not joy is an apt description for the action on stage as Act 1 draws to a close, the combination of the vocal soloists, the chorus, and the orchestra produced as joyful a noise as can be imagined. Or at least a sufficient amount to tide us over until we have our annual season finale of Beethoven’s Ninth next month!