Elīna Garanča to Sing Tosca in Athens, Where Callas Began

Elīna Garanča will sing Tosca. The Latvian mezzo-soprano, now 50, has scheduled two performances of Puccini's heroine for January 24 and 28, 2027 — and she will sing the role in Athens, the city where Maria Callas made her debut.

The announcement carries real weight. Tosca was Callas's supreme role, and the part sits high — territory normally claimed by sopranos, not mezzos. Garanča has decided to attempt it while she still can.

She explained her reasoning in a statement that reads less like a press release than a confession.

"It seems that sometimes even my wildest dreams come true," Garanča said. "Tosca has been one of my favourite operas for as long as I can remember, and Maria Callas, with her extraordinary artistry, has always been the absolute role model for me. But as a mezzo-soprano, I never imagined that Tosca would one day be a part of my journey."

She continued: "As I've grown older, I've realized that if we don't reach for our dreams, they're unlikely to seek us out. Perhaps it's no coincidence that our home is called Villa Tosca. This opera is such a personal part of my life that adding Tosca to my repertoire means far more than simply taking on a new role. It feels like I'm finally daring to open a door to one of my deepest and most passionate dreams, one I've secretly carried within me for a very, very long time."

The detail about her home is striking. Garanča and her family named their residence Villa Tosca — long before she had any professional claim on the role. The name now doubles as a prophecy fulfilled.

The choice of venue sharpens the symbolism. Athens is where Callas, the singer Garanča names as her "absolute role model," began her stage career. By launching her own Tosca there, Garanča places her venture directly in the lineage of the role's most celebrated interpreter.

The vocal mathematics remain the open question. Tosca's tessitura favors sopranos, and Callas's identification with the part set a standard that has shadowed every successor. A mezzo approaching the role at 50 is betting on technique, dramatic instinct and careful pacing over sheer brilliance on top. The wager will be settled in the house where Callas's own story started.

For now, the dates are fixed: January 24 and 28, 2027, in Athens. Whether Garanča's Tosca becomes a late-career triumph or a one-off experiment, she has already made the most personal casting decision of her career — and named the dream honestly before singing a note of it.