
That background is the Europe of 1800, divided between the old established regimes on one hand, and on the other, the young French republic, with its brilliant young general, Napoleon Bonaparte.īut the real story of Tosca is not about Napoleon or his battles.

Like many books and films, it tells a fictional story, set against a historical background. Former music director Rex Levang provides us with an overview one of the most popular operas ever written, by one of the most popular of all opera composers, Giacomo Puccini.
