About

AUSTIN OPERA PRESENTS

TOSCA

Thur, Apr 29 & Sat, May 1  | Circuit of the Americas

Austin Opera’s much-anticipated return to live performance is 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.

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 sung 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—see complete listing on the Cast & Production tab.

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.

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What Audiences Can Expect 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 (see the venue map here). 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 here.

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.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, April 29 | Saturday, May 1
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Venue: Circuit of the Americas
• Website: https://austinopera.org/opera/tosca/

Ticket Information

• Cost: $39-$185
• Phone: 512-472-5992

Presenter Details

• Name: Austin Opera

Originally founded in May 1986 as Austin Lyric Opera, the city’s first professional opera company, Austin Opera has become a cultural touchstone for the fine arts community in the Central Texas region and has gained national acclaim as a producer of great opera. Co-founders Joseph McClain and the late Dr. Walter Ducloux envisioned a dynamic company that would enrich, entertain, and educate the community. In January 1987, the sold-out inaugural production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” debuted to rave reviews. “One could not hope for a more polished first showing,” praised an Austin critic.

Austin Opera is committed to producing and promoting outstanding opera that will entertain, enrich and educate the central Texas community.  Austin Opera is a cultural destination for the community that delivers an extraordinary experience; a creative environment that challenges the misconceptions of the art form; enables lifelong learning, and celebrates the diversity that makes Austin unique.

A consistently excellent program selection fused with major international artists, directors, and designers has won acclaim for the company locally, nationally and internationally. Austin Opera productions consistently garner praise for production value, vocal artistry, and set design. Internationally known singers such as Carol Vaness, Greer Grimsley, Lyubov Petrova, Stephen Costello, Lise Lindstrom, and Sandra Piques Eddy have all graced the opera stage and delighted Austin audiences.

Austin Opera is committed to maintaining the highest standards of artistic integrity.  Works from previous seasons include Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking,” Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” Rodriguez’s “La Curandera,” Puccini’s “La Bohème,” Verdi’s “La Traviata,” and Puccini’s “Turandot.” The artistry and musical excellence for which Austin Opera is known continues in the company’s performance home, The Joe R. and Teresa Long Center for the Performing Arts and its acoustically noteworthy Dell Hall.

Venue Details