Ushakova as Tosca

Spectacular stage death of the drama queen

Natalia Ushakova as Tosca at the Stadttheater Baden(Bild: Christian Husar/Bühne Baden)

Soprano Natalia Ushakova celebrates her premiere in Giacomo Puccini's opera thriller "Tosca" at the Stadttheater Baden on Saturday, February 22. Intendant Michael Lakner is directing the production. 

"I've already jumped off Castel Sant'Angelo 45 times," laughs Natalia Ushakova, as always, on the phone during a break in rehearsals for the Puccini classic "Tosca", which premieres at the Stadttheater Baden on Saturday, February 22 - and she promises: "My Tosca dies a spectacular death, the audience will be thrilled!"

Director Michael Lakner is staging the psychological thriller about political despotism and personal passions in a classic-historical set design by Manfred Waba, with Michael Zehetner conducting.

Drama, baby, drama: Floria Tosca (Ushakova) with "Cavaradossi" Eric Reddet(Bild: Christian Husar/Bühne Baden)

Natalia Ushakova with "Scarpia" Thomas Weinhappel(Bild: Christian Husar/Bühne Baden)

"Scarpia" Thomas Weinhappel(Bild: Christian Husar/Bühne Baden)

Love to the death: "Tosca" Natalia Ushakova and "Cavaradossi" Eric Reddet(Bild: Christian Husar/Bühne Baden)

"As you know, I'm a drama queen," laughs Ushakova, "which is why I love the role of the diva Floria Tosca in this exciting story, which is a real thriller. We singers become singing actors here". Since the world premiere in 1900, the thrilling libretto about the Roman singer and her lover, the painter and republican Mario Cavaradossi (Eric Reddet) and the corrupt, brutal police chief Baron Scarpia (Thomas Weinhappel), which takes place in Rome in less than 24 hours in June 1800, has been captivating audiences.

Natalia Ushakova, who once enjoyed success as Tosca in Beijing and Washington D.C. under Plácido Domingo, has found a new home at the Stadttheater: "The Baden stage is my beloved opera house!"