Tosca – A Guide to the Opera

Oxford International Opera’s production of Puccini’s Tosca arrives on the New Theatre’s stage in just two weeks. As the OPO takes its first steps into opera, we’re looking forward to audience members taking their first steps alongside us. In this post, we’ll give you everything you need to know before your inaugural night at the opera.

As with so many art forms, opera is even more enjoyable with a bit of context. During the performance, you can find the context with surtitles. The fantastic vocalists will be singing their arias and duets in the original Italian, but English surtitles will be shown throughout. More broadly, between our recent blog posts and souvenir programmes available to buy on the night, you can find all you need to know about who’s performing, the arc of the story and how Tosca became one of the most popular operas of all time.

What to wear

There’s no dress code, so dress comfortably. Some opera-goers may dress up for the occasion, choosing to don a more formal dress or smart shirt. Others will feel more at home in everyday clothes or may have come straight from work – that’s just as welcome.

Getting to the New Theatre

The New Theatre is about a 10-minute walk from Oxford Railway Station. Alternatively, you can use local bus services or park-and-ride services to get to the theatre, though be sure to plan your journey. Car parking is notoriously difficult in Oxford, so if you’re driving into the centre, we’d recommend planning ahead.

How long is the evening

Performances on both the 24th and 26th begin at 7pm. There will be a short interval after Act II of about 25 minutes. We expect to finish around 9:30pm.

A few notes on etiquette

Above all, opera is for everyone, despite what some see as its reputation. Nonetheless, please do switch off your phones during the performance, and arrive in good time to find your seats.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the New Theatre on the 24th or 26th. See you there!

Find tickets to the Oxford International Opera’s performance of Tosca here

Join the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra alongside international opera stars for the brand-new, fully-staged production of Oxford International Opera, where we will bring Puccini’s Tosca to the stage of the New Theatre in Oxford. Featuring internationally renowned opera singers such as Sir Bryn Terfel, Carmen Giannattasio and Saimir Pirgu, the Oxford Philharmonic will be the fourth protagonist and extra voice on the stage.

The Principal Donor of this production is the Laidlaw Opera Trust.