“Tosca” is probably the greatest diva in the opera canon. The role is so iconic that most sopranos dream of performing it at some points in their respective careers. The work combines rich music with one of the most suspenseful acts in all of opera. It gives opportunities to sopranos to show off their vocal fireworks as well as their masterful acting. And this week one of today’s leading sopranos, who has described Tosca as her dream role, will take on the doomed diva for the first time in her career at Oper Frankfurt.

Swedish soprano Malin Byström, who is best known for her Strauss interpretations, is perhaps one of the greatest singing actors of her generation, making waves for her dramatic skills as well as her lush voice. When she made her debut as “Salome” critics raved stating “by singing with technical assurance and charging the text with meaning and mettle, she created an intensely captivating Salome.” Like Salome, Tosca must be performed by a complete musician who is ready to convey danger, passion and who must have an impeccable technical ability. Byström has all these goods and more as she has proven through her Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, Giordano, and Massenet interpretations.

For those not in Frankfurt, the recent winner of the Opera Award for Female Singer of the Year will return to Strauss this season at the Teatro Real for “Capriccio.”

Recordings

For those not familiar with Byström’s voice she can be heard on two DVD’s of “Don Giovanni” from the Royal Opera House and Innsbruck Festival. She can also be seen in the Royal Opera House’s “Guillaume Tell” DVD as well as Antonio Pappano’s recording of the same opera. She can also be seen in a DVD of “Salome” from the Dutch National Opera.

Here is the soprano in an excerpt from Jenufa at the San Francisco Opera.