Cast prepares for premier of classic 'Tosca' Friday

For the second of its summer productions, the IU Opera Theater will present Giacomo Puccini's fifth operatic masterpiece "Tosca" this weekend.\nThe famous piece, set in 1796, the year Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Italy, tells the story of opera singer Floria Tosca, who is pursued by the feared and antiquated chief of police Barone Scarpia. Meanwhile, she is utterly devoted to painter and revolutionary Mario Cavarodossi. The opera is a dramatic tale of entangled love, jealousy and the betrayal of lovers by tyrants in power.\nThe production, conducted by faculty member Imre Palló, will feature two School of Music alumni in the role of Cavarodossi.\nJeffrey Springer, who will perform Friday night, left IU in the spring of 1992 and has since performed the role nearly every year since. Nicholas Coppolo, who completed his bachelor's degree and performer's diploma just a year and a half ago, will sing the role of Cavarodossi for the first time in his career.\n"This is my first 'Tosca' and probably my last for a while," Coppolo said.\nCoppolo, a lyric tenor, said the role is not yet entirely suited for his voice.\nIn the confusing world of voice classifications, such a judgment is not to be made lightly. One's singing career can come to a premature end if roles are assumed before a singer is physically able to handle it.\n"(Cavarodossi) is a spinto role," Coppolo said.\nSpringer, billed by the School of Music as "one of America's busiest spinto tenors," possesses the meatier, more piercing sound demanded of the score.\nSpinto, roughly translated from the Italian, means "to thrust," ideally through the orchestra. This task is made more daunting than usual, however, by the use of the IU Auditorium while the Musical Arts Center remains out of commission because of repairs.\n"(Singing in the auditorium) is less than ideal," Coppolo said. \nThe orchestra pit sits higher than in an opera house, making projection over the orchestra's sound an even greater challenge for the singers, who will not be amplified.\n"The orchestra is set at the level of the audience," explained one violinist. "So we're relying on the conductor."\nAs conductor, Palló will indicate how the orchestra should adjust for balance.\n"The auditorium actually has very good acoustics," Springer said. "If we can get balanced, it will be quite beautiful."\nWhile one tenor is making his first attempt with the role and the other has many performances under his belt, they are both getting their first chance to work with guest Stage Director Dorothy Danner.\n"She has a very specific vision," Coppolo said.\nDanner has directed numerous operas with companies throughout the country since leaving her career as a singer and dancer on Broadway. A member of a particularly talented family of entertainers -- she is actress Gwyneth Paltrow's aunt -- Danner has created a unique theatrical experience for Bloomington operagoers.\n"She's had interesting insights," Springer said. "I've sung in many productions of 'Tosca,' but none with a dream sequence."\nDanner will give a pre-show information session on the third floor balcony one hour before each performance.\nGraduate students Reyna Carguil and Rachel Holland will play the role of Tosca. Carguil, who will perform with Springer on Friday night, has studied under faculty soprano Virginia Zeani, herself a celebrated interpreter of the role.\n"(Carguil's) nervous, but she's really blossoming into the role," Springer said.\n-- Contact staff writer Eric Anderson at eraander@indiana.edu .