Dutch National Opera

Tosca

Giacomo Puccini (1858 – 1924)

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Dates

3 – 25 September 2025

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

2:35, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

N/A

Woman in a flowing yellow dress suspended upside down against a green-blue background.

Photo: Hugo Thomassen

A gripping opéra noir by Puccini

Love, power and betrayal take centre stage in Tosca, a psychological thriller by Giacomo Puccini. Barrie Kosky’s razor-sharp production, which received high praise in 2022, returns to Dutch National Opera. When singer Floria Tosca’s lover is imprisoned by the sadistic chief of police Scarpia, she becomes entangled in a dangerous game of power. With its stark contrasts and sharp character portrayals, Tosca is one of Puccini’s most suspenseful operas. Internationally acclaimed conductor Nathalie Stutzmann makes her debut at Dutch National Opera, leading the Netherlands Philharmonic. The title role will be performed alternately by Elena Stikhina and Natalya Romaniw, alongside tenor Joshua Guerrero and baritone Gevorg Hakobyan.

Opéra noir brimming with tension and emotion

Kosky’s incisive direction highlights the psychological depth and dark nature of the work. The striking set is designed by Rufus Didwiszus, with costumes by Klaus Bruns and lighting design by Franck Evin.

A world-class cast

The title role will be sung alternately by Elena Stikhina, who previously impressed at Dutch National Opera in Madama Butterfly and Suor Angelica, and Natalya Romaniw, who makes her house debut. Tenor Joshua Guerrero returns as the passionate Cavaradossi, while baritone Gevorg Hakobyan once again embodies the terrifying Scarpia. The cast also features bass Sam Carl, baritone Tomeu Bibiloni and tenor Lucas van Lierop. Both the Chorus of Dutch National Opera and the Nieuw Amsterdams Children’s Chorus will lend their voices to Puccini’s gripping music.

Performance information

Revival

Melodrama in three acts

Sung in Italian

Music Giacomo Puccini

Libretto Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Musical direction Nathalie Stutzmann
Stage direction Barrie Kosky
Set design Rufus Didwiszus
Costume design Klaus Bruns
Lighting design Franck Evin

Floria Tosca Elena Stikhina (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 23 September), Natalya Romaniw (18, 21 and 25 September)
Mario Cavaradossi Joshua Guerrero
Il barone Scarpia Gevorg Hakobyan
Cesare Angelotti Sam Carl
Il Sagrestano Tomeu Bibiloni
Spoletta Lucas van Lierop
Un Carceriere Joe Chalmers (Dutch National Opera Studio)
Sciarrone Ismael Correa Ulriksen (Dutch National Opera Studio)
Pastore Danthe Jongsma, Looren Schenau (Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam)

Netherlands Philharmonic

Chorus of Dutch National Opera
Chorus master Edward Ananian-Cooper

Nieuw Amsterdams Children’s Chorus (part of Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam)

This performance contains simulations of violence, sexual abuse, murder and suicide.

NRC ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“A sublime drama”

Videos

The videos below feature excerpts from Tosca (2022), with the title role performed by Malin Byström. This season, Tosca will be sung by Elena Stikhina and by Natalya Romaniw (on September 18, 21, and 25).

Natalya Romaniw as Tosca - DNO (2025) | Photo: Koen Broos

Gevorg Hakobyan (Scarpia), Tomeu Bibiloni (Sagrestano) - Tosca (2025) | Photo: Koen Broos

Chorus Dutch National Opera in Tosca - DNO (2025) | Photo: Koen Broos

Elena Stikhina (Tosca), Joshua Guerrero (Mario) - Tosca (2025) | Photo: Koen Broos

Tosca (2025) | Photo: Koen Broos

Joshua Guerrero (Mario Cavaradossi) and Alexander de Jong (Un Carceriere) (2022) | Photo: Marco Borggreve

Gevorg Hakobyan (Il barone Scarpia) and singers of the Chorus of Dutch National Opera | Photo: Marco Borggreve

Scene from Tosca (2022) | Photo: Marco Borggreve

Scene from Tosca (2022) | Photo: Marco Borggreve

Federico De Michelis (Il Sagrestano) (2022) | Photo: Marco Borggreve

Lucas van Lierop (Spoletta) and Federico De Michelis (Il Sagrestano) (2022) | Photo: Marco Borggreve

Martijn Sanders (Cesare Angelotti) and Joshua Guerrero (Mario Cavaradossi) (2022) | Photo: Marco Borggreve

Elena Stikhina (Tosca) and Gevorg Hakobyan (Scarpia) in rehearsal (2025) | Photo: Michel Schnater

Elena Stikhina (Tosca) and Ismael Correa Ulriksen (Sciarrone) in rehearsal (2025) | Photo: Michel Schnater

Rehearsal for Tosca (2025) | Photo: Michel Schnater

Elena Stikhina (Tosca) and Joshua Guerrero (Cavaradossi) in rehearsal (2025) | Photo: Michel Schnater

Assistant conductor Boudewijn Jansen and conductor Nathalie Stutzmann (2025) | Photo: Michel Schnater

Koor van De Nationale Opera in Tosca - DNO (2025) | Foto: Koen Broos

Joshua Guerrero (Cavaradossi) and Elena Stikhina (Tosca) in rehearsal (2025) | Photo: Michel Schnater

Elena Stikhina (Tosca), Joshua Guerrero (Mario) - Tosca (2025) | Foto: Koen Broos

Natalya Romaniw (Tosca) and Gevorg Hakobyan (Scarpia) - DNO (2025) | Foto: Koen Broos

A fiercely thrilling staging by Barrie Kosky including one of the best opera scenes ever.

4 September

Nathalie Stutzmann brought the sound that perfectly matched the spine-chilling scenes.

4 September

"Critic’s Choice" — A performance that leaves an indelible impression

4 September

“Opera makes us feel human”

Soprano Elena Stikhina on Tosca and The Maid of Orleans

Soprano Elena Stikhina certainly holds a special place in the heart of Dutch National Opera’s audience. This season, she will star in both Puccini’s Tosca and Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans.

Photo: Daniil Rabovsky