This arrangement is centered around Act II and is a shortened version that was performed by the Saitama Sakae Wind Orchestra at the 2017 All Japan Band Competition. It begins with Scarpia's motives and quickly transitions to the intense scene in Act II where Scarpia interrogates Cavaradossi and Tosca. The tension builds throughout the music until it leads to Tosca's famous aria, "Vissi d'arte, Vissi d'amore" ("I lived for art, I lived for love"). In the dramatic conclusion, Cavaradossi is executed, and the devastated Tosca cries, "Scarpia, we meet before God!!" before throwing herself from the battlements.
Please enjoy the various human dramas portrayed in Puccini's masterpiece opera "Tosca".
(Koh Shishikura)

Arranger's Profile: Koh Shishikura
Koh Shishikura, born in Tokyo in 1968, graduated from Musashino Academia Musicae studying oboe with Kaetsu Toratani and Kozo Yoshinari and vocal music with Hirochi Mochiki. He began composing and arranging at age 16 and has arranged numerous classical, jazz and pops selections for wind band. Many of his works have been premiered by the Saitama Sakae Wind Orchestra including Fantasia on Little Fugue at the NBA/BOA Summer Symposium in 2004, Cherished Days - Nostalgia for Naperville at the 60th Midwest Clinic (presented to the city of Naperville, IL in 2006), an arrangement of Beethoven's Tempest at the premier classical music event La Forge Journet Kanazawa in 2008, an arrangement of The Phantom of the Opera at the New York Band and Orchestra Festival in 2008, and the World Youth Song at the Taiwan Clinic in 2009. A CD collection of his music entitled "Miss Saigon" was recorded and labeled by Brain Music. Mr. Shishikura is also active as a clinician and lecturer. He is a rehearsal coach for Saitama Sakae Junior and Senior High School band club and is an adjunct professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. In 2006 he received honorary citizenship from the City of Naperville, IL.

(Koh Shishikura)