Hot-blooded

Love and death are savory themes in Tosca, realized at one level through Puccini's musical innovation but more elegantly through the drama. The master took a while to finish Tosca because he insisted on getting the local color right. In 1897 he traveled to Rome, where the story took place, and listened to how the church bells sounded at the level of the Castello Santangelo, the castle near St. Peter's that looms tall at the edge of the winding Tiber. He also consulted a priest about certain religious details in the story.

As Puccini did for the Italians, Bill Weibel plans to add a forceful personal touch to this already community-minded opera company. With his first season finale, he's just getting started. Look for him to rev up next season's repertoire by forging personal connections between the past and present.

Opera in the Heights performs Tosca in Italian with English surtitles at Lambert Hall's Performing Arts Center, 1703 Heights Boulevard, May 20 through 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 23, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $20. Call (713)861-5303 for ticket information.