January 14: Tosca was premiered (1900)

Tosca, a three-act opera of Giacomo Puccini, was premiered at the Teatro Constanzi in Rome on January 14, 1900. The opera was based on the French dramatic play La Tosca of Victorien Sardou. The work is set in Rome threatened by invaded Napoleon's troops. Puccini adopted Wagnerian leitmotifs to identify characters and objects but did not develop or modify the motifs, which is different or innovative. Tosca is one of the most frequently performed opera in the world. Since the first recording was done by the Gramophone company conducted by Carlo Sabajno in 1919. Since then, it has been frequently recorded.