(Credits: Javier del Real / Piotr Beczała official website)

The Wiener Staatsoper has unveiled a completely new cast for Puccini’s “Tosca.”

The third and the final run of the opera was originally scheduled between May 3 and May 14 2021 with Massimo Giordano as Mario Cavaradossi, Luca Salsi as Scarpia, and Anja Harteros in the title role. However, as the Austrian government allowed the reopening of the opera houses starting May 19, the Wiener Staatsoper added two performances of “Tosca” on May 21 & 24, with an entirely different cast.

Piotr Beczała will portray Mario Cavaradossi, and Ambrogio Maestri will appear in the role of Scarpia. Sonya Yoncheva will be appearing in the title role. Axel Kober will conduct the production by Margarethe Wallmann.

The opera house did not specify the reasons for a full cast change, as the third intended run between May 3 and May 14 was close to the newly announced performances.

The Austrian government will begin the process of  gradual relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown measures on May 19, despite a worsening epidemiological situation in the state of Tyrol. The Wiener Staatsoper has officially announced reopening on May 19, 2021.

Austria has logged 2,229 new COVID-19 daily cases on April 29, 2021.