'Tosca' with a touch of cinema enthrals Milan's La Scala at opening night

Opera cast members acknowledge the applause at the end of the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

MILAN (Reuters) - "Tosca", Giacomo Puccini's opera about a diva prepared to do anything for love, was given a cinematic flavor as it opened La Scala's season for the first time, winning a 16-minute ovation and a stage strewn with flowers from the audience on Saturday.

Director Davide Livermore thrilled spectators with special effects. Sections of the stage moved up and down and rotated. Sets depicted the Sant'Andrea della Valle church, Palazzo Farnese and Castel Sant'Angelo, three architectural masterpieces in Rome. Riccardo Chailly conducted.

Director Davide Livermore acknowledges the applause at the end of the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

The audience included Italy's President Sergio Mattarella, who was welcomed with warm applause, as well as several government ministers and celebrities including the American singer Patti Smith.

"Puccini is one of my favorite composers. I love Tosca's strength," said fashion designer Domenico Dolce.

The opera, based on the story by French playwright Victorien Sardou and set in 1800, had its debut in Rome in January 1900. It tells the story of the singer Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi and the cruel Baron Scarpia, a police chief Tosca kills while trying to escape his harassment.

Opera cast members acknowledge the applause at the end of the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Russian soprano Anna Netrebko enchanted the audience with a passionate Tosca, a role once sung by the diva Maria Callas, while tenor Francesco Meli was a moving Cavaradossi. Baritone Luca Salsi played Baron Scarpia, a character he calls "as insidious as a rattlesnake".

This year's season opening was the last for the theatre's outgoing artistic director Alexander Pereira, who will be replaced by Frenchman Dominique Meyer.

The opera will be performed at La Scala ‪until Jan. 8.

A maxi screen broadcasts the opening of La Scala theatre in the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

(Editing by Peter Graff)

Opera cast member Anna Netrebko acknowledges the applause at the end of the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Opera cast member Francesco Meli acknowledges the applause at the end of the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Opera cast member Luca Salsi acknowledges the applause at the end of the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Lights are pictured in front of La Scala theatre during the season opening in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Superintendent Alexander Pereira attends the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

A guest wearing a dress with lights attends the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Patti Smith and her daughter Jesse Smith attend the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Italian banker Corrado Passera and his wife Giovanna Salza attend the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini and his wife Michela Di Biase attend the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana attend the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese attends the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Members of the media and guests are seen in the foyer ahead of the season opening of La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

A couple of guests stands outside La Scala theatre before the opening of the opera season in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Carabinieri officers stand outside La Scala theatre before the opening of the opera season in Milan, Italy December 7, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo