Rome is the setting of Puccini’s opera Tosca. Love, lust, murder, and political intrigue are elements of this drama that begins and ends in a period of 24 hours. The concert performance of the opera, which includes the famous arias Vissi d’arte and E lucevan le stelle under the baton of Gabriel Feltz, represents another step forward by the Belgrade Philharmonic in the opera genre.

To have the opportunity to perform once again with Zeljko Lucic was something that the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra was very much looking forward to. The last time the orchestra accompanied this  renowned and much beloved artist was back in 2014, during the BPO’s American tour in Chicago Symphony Center and New York’s famous Carnegie Hall. The BPO’s performance of Tosca in the 22/23 season was an opportunity that everyone has been eagerly waiting for, however, our baritone has recently informed the management that he would not be available to participate in the agreed project.

Instead, the award-winning baritone Mandla Ndebele will be performing in the role of Baron Scarpia. Mndebele is a member of the Theater Dortmund, whom the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra is pleased to present as part of the international production with Elizabeth Teige as Tosca and Eduardo Aladrèn as Mario Cavaradossi.

The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra announces a real spectacle on stage on February 24, when the Kolarac Grand Hall will be transformed into an extravagant opera scene, as yet another venture that the BPO is embarking on together with its chief conductor Gabriel Feltz and director Aleksandar Nikolic.

I love the Belgrade Philharmonic so much and I remember all our performances crowned with the American tour. I was very much looking forward to performing Tosca together for our wonderful audience. However, the world of opera music today is very complex and turbulent with many overlapping engagements in the post-covid time, which is still recovering from the pandemic effects. Regrettably this coming February I will not be able to work with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra again and enjoy performing in front of my favourite audience. I am however sure that Tosca will be fantastic in Belgrade and I can’t wait for the next opportunity to meet with the BPO and our beloved audience, said baritone Zeljko Lucic.