Anna Netrebko* returns to the Covent Garden stage, sharing the role of Tosca with Saioa Hernández and Malin Byström in Puccini's great opera of passion and politics.

Puccini portrays the idealism of Tosca and her lover Mario Cavaradossi through radiant, expansive music, including Act I's duet 'Qual occhio al mondo', Cavaradossi's ardent aria 'Recondita armonia' and Tosca's despairing Act II prayer 'Vissi d'arte'. Baron Scarpia's music, by contrast, is dark and terrifying – from the demonic chords that open the opera to the violence of his Act II exchanges with Tosca. Jonathan Kent's production, with Paul Brown's stunning designs, perfectly evokes the troubled atmosphere of Rome in 1800 and Tosca's combination of sensuality and religious sincerity.

Dan Ettinger conducts the performances in January with Anna Netrebko joined by Yusif Eyvazov as Cavaradossi and Gerald Finley as Scarpia, and Saioa Hernández joined by Yonghoon Lee and Kostas Smoriginas. In March Alexander Soddy makes his Royal Opera debut conducting Malin Byström with Freddie De Tommaso and Michael Volle. The three casts are joined by the Royal Opera Chorus, former and current members of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.