VERISMO OPERA COMPANY OPENED THE FINAL LEG of its production of Puccini’s “Tosca” at the Bay Terrace Theatre in Vallejo on Saturday. The deeply dramatic tale follows lovers and patriots through waves of joy and tragedy on the eve of Napoleon’s conquest of Rome, in the year 1800. Critics panned the opera at the time of its debut in 1900 — in fact, according to Wikipedia musicologist Joseph Kerman famously referred to it as a “shabby little shocker” — though it was an immediate hit with audiences.

Floria Tosca, sung beautifully Saturday by Vismaya Lhi, is a performer and lover to painter Mario Cavaradossi (Zolton DiBartolo). An acquaintance of Mario’s, Cesare Angelotti (Julio Ferrari), has escaped prison and appears in the sanctuary one evening as Mario is painting there. Mario provides him food and shelter, but just as they are concluding a plan to help Angelotti evade capture, a cannon sounds the alarm signaling that the police must soon be on their way there to find him. The two hurry away moments before police chief Baron Scarpia (Joe Kinyon) arrives.

All of the passion in “Tosca” resides among three major characters: the righteous painter, his vain and jealous lover and the cruel police chief obsessed with her. The three parts were all sung with precision and power Saturday, that alone being enough to make the emotion-packed production a treat — but all of the other essential elements of the production were also in place. From the choir to the orchestra and all through the cast, each player performed his or her part with focus and sensitivity. (Many roles are shared, with different singers performing on alternate dates.)

Highlights of Saturday’s performance began with DiBartolo and Lhi’s love duet, “Qual’occhio,” in which the painter calls Tosca his sorceress for the way she has captured his love; and later, Tosca’s protestations as the police chief plays on her jealousy by showing her the crested fan of her perceived romantic rival. DiBartolo also shines in his brief but musically and narratively significant declaration of victory (“Vittorio!”) after hearing news of Napoleon’s defeat in the second act.

Lhi shines again in one of Tosca’s most well-known arias, “Vissi d’arte,” in which she protests to God for placing her in such a tortuous situation. Toward the end of the second act, Tosca’s lover is being held for helping his friend escape “justice,” and Tosca faces the prospect of succumbing to Baron Scarpia’s lustful intentions to win his freedom.

Among the smaller parts in the Verismo production, the choir also stands out in character and polish. The group appears in strategically effective locations, either onstage or at the rear of the audience, draped in muted red robes and well synchronized in posture and expression as they reflect in words and music the spiritual background against which the action is played out.

The singers and musicians of Verismo are professionals, and in some instances, as was the case Saturday, their performances are no less polished than one would expect to hear at a more formal venue. English supertitles are projected above the stage to help audiences follow the story, and sets and costumes are consistently evocative of the story settings.

I believe the current production of “Tosca” would be worthwhile and enjoyable for anyone who would like to experience opera for the first time. Some of the genre’s best-known arias are sung beautifully by dedicated professionals, and the emotion-packed story is easy to follow and appreciate in the singers’ powerful musical rendition.

If You Go
“Tosca” continues at the Bay Terrace Theatre, 51 Daniels Ave., Vallejo through Dec. 7. Tickets are $25 general, $18 senior or student and $12 for children under 12. For more information call 707-864-5508 or visit verismoopera.org.

Elizabeth Warnimont is a freelance writer specializing in the performing arts. She is also a substitute teacher for the Benicia Unified School District.