by: Elizabeth Kramer

If you were in the mood for an aria, there were plenty — and stirring ones — this weekend in the Kentucky Opera’s performances of Puccini’s “Tosca” (Friday and Sunday).

Some of the most powerful came from tenor Jonathan Burton as the painter Mario Cavaradossi, and baritone Michael Chioldi, as the evil Scarpia wielding his power as the chief of police.

Cavaradossi’s confidence, as portrayed by Burton, and his solid love for Tosca that he sings about is enough to make one swoon. And Chilodi’s Scarpia is threatening enough to set one back a few paces to keep out of his way.

In between these men in this big drama is Tosca, quick to give in to her emotions and naïve in so many ways. Soprano Kara Shay Thompson in the title role was able to hold her own in the presence of these two voices and powerful performances.

But what seemed to wow audiences almost as much was having the Louisville Orchestra back in the pit before the Brown Theatre stage, after not playing there since last fall in large part because of the labor impasse it had with its management.

The drama—here created in part by the stresses that grow out of changing political world and people trying to hold on to what they love—carries a bit of a parallel to the Louisville’s struggle to hold onto its orchestra in a changing world of entertainment and arts funding practices. The fate of the orchestra, which is under a one-year contract, during which time both sides are charged with working out a long-term contract, is not yet clear with some wondering if it will be a shadow of its what it was in better times.

What was so great about the orchestra at Sunday’s Kentucky Opera performance was not only how well it performed under the guidance of conductor Joseph Mechavich, but how it displayed community teamwork that created a memorable performance.

The Kentucky Opera’s final performance of “Tosca” is 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, at the Brown Theatre. For more information, call (800) 775-7777 or visit www.kyopera.org or www.kentuckycenter.org.