6-30 Oct. 2003. Conducted by Gary Bertini, directed by Luca Ronconi, with Daniela Dess, Salvatore Licitra, Carlo Guelfi. Tosca will be performed at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan (6-30 Oct. 2003). It will be a remake of the 1997 staging by Luca Ronconi, using scenery by Margherita Palli: skewed perspectives composed of domes and columns that break up and shrink from one act to another to represent the declining power of the pope. The part of Tosca will be played by Daniela Dess, who in recent years has given some of the most complete and convincing interpretations of this role. Playing alongside her will be two other well-known names of the Italian opera world: Salvatore Licitra (Cavaradossi) and Carlo Guelfi (Scarpia).

The rarely-performed Ugo, Conte di Parigi by Gaetano Donizetti will also be staged at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi (14-24 Oct. 2003). It was written in 1832 for the Teatro alla Scala, but was soon forgotten, because the plot had been cut into muddled confusion by the censors. The music, however, is inspired, particularly the choral passages and the numerous duets and melodic pieces. The conductor is Antonino Fogliani, while the direction, set design and costumes are all by Guido De Monticelli. The singers come from the Accademia di perfezionamento di cantanti lirici del Teatro alla Scala.