Puccini: Tosca (Arena di Verona)

Puccini’s melodrama about a volatile diva, a sadistic police chief, and an idealistic artist has offended and thrilled audiences for more than a century. Critics, for their part, have often had problems with Tosca’s rather grungy subject matter, the directness and intensity of its score, and the crowd-pleasing dramatic opportunities it provides for its lead roles. But these same aspects have also made Tosca one of a handful of iconic works that seem to represent opera in the public imagination.

Directed by Hugo De Ana, Loreena Kaufmann, Puccini: Tosca (Arena di Verona) leans on a strong ensemble — Fiorenza Cedolins, Marcelo Álvarez, Ruggero Raimondi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about music titles of 2006.