Met Opera: The New 'Tosca' Is Back Onstage And It's Still Shocking

The Metropolitan Opera returned its controversial production of Puccini's Tosca to the stage last night with Patricia Racette in the title role and Roberto Alagna singing her artist lover, Cavaradossi. Whatever else one may say about Luc Bondy's staging, and opera buffs have said a lot since its premiere four years ago, it is still a shocker. The Bondy version of Puccini's popular opera opened the Met season in 2009 and became an immediate touchstone of Peter Gelb's stewardship as the company's ...