Once again, the ever-impressive soprano Maida Hundeling will perform the title role of Puccini’s opera “Tosca” in the Pula Arena on the 26th of June, Wednesday. The lightness and power of her soprano voice have been conquering global audiences, from Verona to the Metropolitan, bringing the greatest of opera, only the most demanding and beautiful arias and duets.
Ahead of the performance in the role of the temperamental Florija Tosca under the starry Istrian sky, the singer shared with us a few thoughts and personal experiences:
“Tosca” was one of my absolute first opera performances, more than 20 years ago… And still, when I hear the first notes, I immediately feel the excitement and drama, as if I’m hearing it for the first time; I cannot stop listening to it until the very end of the opera. “Tosca” is a masterpiece. It has it all: a love story, jealousy, intrigue, rape, murder, four deaths. It’s like combining Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock with the most romantic breathtaking Italian music
My first “Tosca” was also an open-air production at a small castle during a small festival. It was exciting staging. Ever since then, I fell in love with performing in the open during the summer. It is a special feeling, although you need to compromise. Nevertheless the feeling of being a step closer to the universe under the open sky is unique and indescribably beautiful.
It is a privilege to perform in the Arena of Pula. The aura of this ancient place makes any event there feel very special. Though it is enormously huge, you still have the feeling of being close to the audience. Last time we performed without the amplifiers and it was great to deal with the Arena acoustics and its ways of handling the music.
I already had the chance to perform “Tosca” under Marin Blažević and it’s still exciting to have a chance to perform again. What makes it so special is that it goes from the traditional ways of the first act to a militant cold steel world in the second act and end in the minimalistic third act. It gives you and me the chance to really feel the drama and tragedy of Tosca which perfectly supports the way I like to perform the role of Tosca. It also shows aspects of the great soprano Zinka Milanov, for whose ways of performing I have great admiration.
Also, I’m excited to meet Giorgio Surian again who is taking on the role of Baron Scarpia. I feel we are such a match when we get on stage. As if we have just invented the staging and that is the best you can ask of a partner on stage.
Conversation with Julia Vazniak
