IF OPERA'S your thing, and you want Christmas over and done with, here's a New Year date for lovers of Puccini.

On Saturday January 27, the Met's new production of Tosca will be screened Live in HD across the UK and the world.

And, even better news, one of the venues will be Malvern Theatres.

A spokesman said: "Sir David McVicar directs Sonya Yoncheva in the title role of the jealous prima donna, Vittorio Grigolo as her revolutionary artist lover, Cavaradossi and Sir Bryn Terfel in the role of the depraved officer, Scarpia.

"The production is conducted by the Met's Music Director Emeritus James Levine.

Despite the distinctive trio of stars, Tosca's greatest character is the city of Rome itself with each of Tosca's three acts set in a historical Roman site. Puccini and his librettists, Giocosa and Illica, were very specific about both the time and location of the action, which takes place in the city's three centers of power – religious, political and military."

The spokesman added: "Tosca's story about love, loyalty, human frailty and superhuman strength is as timeless as Rome itself. Tosca is an opera singer, a diva, in a city where only a decade earlier the stage was entirely ruled by men and especially, castrati.

"She lives passionately, experiencing every emotion to its fullest. The demanding role which combines vocal intensity, theatrical instinct and fearless commitment is sung by Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva, who quickly rose to fame after making her Met debut when she stepped in at the last minute to perform Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto."

Further details at http://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/met-tosca/