A new opera company created by the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra will make its debut this September with a fully staged production of Puccini’s political thriller Tosca, led by Sir Bryn Terfel, Carmen Giannattasio and Saimir Pirgu.
At a glance
| Production | Tosca by Giacomo Puccini |
| Company | Oxford International Opera |
| Dates | Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 September 2026 |
| Time | 7pm on both evenings |
| Venue | New Theatre Oxford, 24–26 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AG |
| Principal cast | Sir Bryn Terfel, Carmen Giannattasio and Saimir Pirgu |
| Conductor | Marios Papadopoulos |
| Director | P Burton-Morgan |
| Running time | 160 minutes |
| Tickets | £20, £30, £45, £60, £75, £95 and £125, with ATG booking fees applying |
| Language and surtitles | Not clearly stated on the current official booking pages; check with the venue before booking if required |
| Booking | Book through New Theatre Oxford |
Oxford International Opera will launch at New Theatre Oxford later this month with a new production of one of the most frequently performed operas in the repertoire.
The company has been established by the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra to create fully staged opera productions in the city, bringing international singers together with the orchestra, emerging performers and local musical talent.
Its inaugural production will be staged for two nights only, on Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 September.
Sir Bryn Terfel, who is also the new company’s Artistic Director, will sing the ruthless police chief Baron Scarpia. The Oxford appearances are being billed as his final UK staged performances in the role.
Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio will play Floria Tosca, while Albanian tenor Saimir Pirgu takes the role of the revolutionary painter Mario Cavaradossi for the first time in the UK.
What is Tosca about?
Set against political unrest in Rome, Tosca combines a love story with a tense drama about state violence, corruption and the abuse of power.
The story begins when escaped political prisoner Cesare Angelotti takes refuge inside the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle.
Painter Mario Cavaradossi agrees to help him, placing himself in direct conflict with Scarpia, Rome’s feared chief of police.
Cavaradossi is also in love with Floria Tosca, a celebrated singer whose jealousy and devotion are exploited by Scarpia as he attempts to locate Angelotti and destroy those who oppose him.
Across three tightly constructed acts, Puccini moves the action from a church to Scarpia’s headquarters and finally to the ramparts of Castel Sant’Angelo.
The opera includes some of Puccini’s best-known music, including Tosca’s prayer-like aria Vissi d’arte and Cavaradossi’s E lucevan le stelle.
Although the original drama is set in Rome in June 1800, the Oxford production will use a modern-day visual setting designed by Anthony Lamble.
The story contains political persecution, torture, sexual coercion, murder and suicide. No specific age guidance is currently displayed on the official event pages, so parents should consider the subject matter and contact the theatre before booking for younger audience members.
Sir Bryn Terfel returns to Scarpia
Sir Bryn Terfel has performed Scarpia at major opera houses including the Royal Opera House, Metropolitan Opera and Bayerische Staatsoper.
The character is among the darkest roles in the bass-baritone repertoire: outwardly controlled and politically powerful, but driven by cruelty, possession and manipulation.
The two Oxford performances are described by Oxford International Opera as Terfel’s final UK staged appearances as Scarpia.
That wording does not mean he is retiring from opera or that these are necessarily his final performances of any kind in Tosca. It refers specifically to fully staged UK performances in the role of Scarpia.
Alongside singing in the debut production, Terfel will help shape Oxford International Opera’s future programme as its Artistic Director.
Who is in the Tosca cast?
Cast highlights
| Performer | Role |
|---|---|
| Sir Bryn Terfel | Baron Scarpia |
| Carmen Giannattasio | Floria Tosca |
| Saimir Pirgu | Mario Cavaradossi |
| Jamie Woollard | Cesare Angelotti |
| Sion Goronwy | The Sacristan |
| Colin Judson | Spoletta |
| Blaise Malaba | Sciarrone |
| Robert Winslade Anderson | The Jailer |
| Misha Gerko | The Shepherd Boy |
Giannattasio brings extensive experience of the title role to Oxford. She has described Tosca as a woman whose public identity as an admired performer conceals considerable vulnerability, with courage, jealousy, faith and fear often colliding within the same scene.
Pirgu joins the production as Cavaradossi, making his UK role debut. The tenor’s music moves from the lyrical opening aria Recondita armonia to the defiance and despair of the opera’s final act.
Jamie Woollard plays Angelotti, the escaped republican whose arrival sets the tragedy in motion.
The cast will be joined by the Oxford International Opera Chorus and Radley College Choristers, giving the production a further Oxfordshire connection alongside the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra.
Who is behind the new production?
| Creative role | Name |
|---|---|
| Artistic Director | Sir Bryn Terfel |
| Conductor and Music Director | Marios Papadopoulos |
| Director | P Burton-Morgan |
| Designer | Anthony Lamble |
| Lighting designer | Mark Jonathan |
| Producer | Anthony Flaum |
| Orchestra | Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Chorus | Oxford International Opera Chorus |
| Young singers | Radley College Choristers |
Marios Papadopoulos, who founded the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998 and remains its Music Director, will conduct both performances.
Director P Burton-Morgan and designer Anthony Lamble are moving the opera’s visual world into the present day, while retaining the essential struggle between the central characters.
The production’s principal donor is the Laidlaw Opera Trust.
A new opera venture for Oxford
Oxford International Opera has been created as a new venture within the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra’s charitable work.
Its stated purpose is to establish new, fully staged opera productions in Oxford while bringing internationally recognised soloists to the city and creating opportunities for emerging performers.
The launch also marks a significant expansion for an orchestra more commonly associated with symphonic and concert performances at venues including the Sheldonian Theatre and Oxford Town Hall.
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra was founded by Papadopoulos in 1998 and has since performed internationally, including appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Musikverein.
Its work in Oxfordshire includes concerts, family performances, student fellowships and outreach projects in schools, hospitals and communities.
Oxford International Opera has already indicated that its next major production will be Beethoven’s Fidelio during the 2027/28 season, as part of the Oxford Beethoven Festival.
Performance dates and ticket prices
| Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 24 September 2026 | 7pm | New Theatre Oxford |
| Saturday 26 September 2026 | 7pm | New Theatre Oxford |
The listed running time is 160 minutes, or approximately two hours and 40 minutes.
Face-value tickets are available at £20, £30, £45, £60, £75, £95 and £125, depending on the chosen seat. ATG booking fees apply.
The production is being staged for two nights only and there is no performance on Friday 25 September.
Tickets can be booked through the New Theatre Oxford booking page.
Further production information, including the complete cast and creative team, is available through the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra’s Tosca page.
How to get to New Theatre Oxford
Planning your visit
| Address | New Theatre Oxford, 24–26 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AG |
| By train | Oxford railway station is approximately a ten-minute walk from the theatre |
| By bus | George Street, Gloucester Green and other central Oxford stops are within walking distance |
| By car | City-centre parking is limited. Consider using Oxford Park & Ride and check current traffic restrictions before travelling |
| Drop-off | General parking and dropping off are not permitted on George Street without the appropriate authorisation |
| Box Office | Open for 90 minutes before the performance |
| Access enquiries | 0333 009 5399 |
| Venue information | New Theatre Oxford visitor information |
Accessibility at New Theatre Oxford
There is level access from George Street into the Box Office and main foyer.
The auditorium itself is reached by steps, but an accessible lift is available for customers using the Stalls. Wheelchair positions and companion seating are located in that section.
The venue says mobility scooters cannot be accommodated. Anyone arriving in a wheelchair but intending to transfer into a theatre seat should discuss the arrangements when booking.
Accessible toilets are available in the main foyer and near the front of the Stalls.
The theatre uses the Mobile Connect system for customers who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. Access customers can also join ATG’s free Access Membership Scheme to book appropriate seats and eligible companion tickets.
Full details are available through the New Theatre Oxford accessibility page.
FAQs
When is Tosca at New Theatre Oxford?
The performances take place at 7pm on Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 September 2026.
Is this the world premiere of Tosca?
No. Puccini’s opera premiered in Rome in 1900. The Oxford event is the inaugural production of Oxford International Opera and a brand-new staging of the existing work.
Who is playing Scarpia?
Sir Bryn Terfel will play Baron Scarpia. The Oxford dates are being billed as his final UK staged performances in the role.
Is Sir Bryn Terfel retiring from opera?
No retirement announcement has been made. The published wording relates specifically to his final UK staged performances as Scarpia.
Who is playing Tosca?
Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio will sing Floria Tosca.
Who is playing Cavaradossi?
Saimir Pirgu will play Mario Cavaradossi, marking his UK debut in the role.
How long is the production?
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra lists a running time of 160 minutes, equivalent to approximately two hours and 40 minutes.
How much are tickets?
Published face values range from £20 to £125 according to seat location. ATG booking fees apply.
What language will Tosca be performed in?
The current official ATG and Oxford Philharmonic event pages do not clearly state the performance language or surtitle arrangements. Audience members who require English surtitles should confirm this with the venue before booking.
Is there an age recommendation?
No production-specific age guidance is currently displayed on the principal official event pages. The story contains torture, sexual coercion, murder and suicide, so parents should consider whether it is appropriate for younger audience members.
Is the theatre wheelchair accessible?
There is step-free access to the foyer and lift access to wheelchair spaces in the Stalls. The theatre says it cannot accommodate mobility scooters.
Where can tickets be booked?
Tickets are available through the official New Theatre Oxford booking page.
