L.A. Opera accessorizes 'Tosca' revival with Maria Callas' jewelry

But not just any old jewelry. For its latest revival of "Tosca," opening Saturday, Los Angeles Opera has obtained a rare stage artifact -- the jewelry worn by Maria Callas in 1956 for her Metropolitan Opera debut as Giacomo Puccini's tragic heroine.

Made of nearly 200 tear-shaped Swarovski crystals, the jewelry was created specifically for Callas by the Atelier Marangoni in Milan, Italy.

The three-piece set, which consists of a tiara, earrings and a fanned-out necklace, is worth approximately $85,000, according to Swarovski, the current owner.

"To wear this talisman -- I have to pinch myself," says soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, who shares the role of Tosca in this revival with Georgina Lukacs. "People were taken aback by how bright they were during rehearsals. It doesn't bother me, but I hope it won't be a distraction for the audience."

Pieczonka will wear the Callas jewelry in Act 2 of "Tosca," which is the most vocally and physically demanding section of the opera.

To save her lover from execution, the tempestuous singer Floria Tosca agrees to enter a relationship with the evil Baron Scarpia (baritone Juan Pons). But during a candlelight dinner, she pulls a knife and murders the baron in a fit of hysteria.

The scene requires the two singers to tussle on the floor, with Scarpia expiring on top of the leading lady. The Callas jewelry might seem too unwieldy for such intense action. But since the individual pieces are made entirely of crystals (no diamonds or real stones), the total weight of the set is only about 3 1/3 pounds.

"At first, I was afraid the jewelry could bog me down. But it's very much doable," says Pieczonka.

Coincidentally, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Callas' L.A. debut. The soprano performed a concert on Nov. 29, 1958, at the Shrine Auditorium as part of a U.S. tour.

Swarovski, based in Austria, is lending the Callas crystals to L.A. Opera free. The gesture is part of a larger marketing effort to highlight Swarovski's long collaboration with the legendary diva, who died in 1977.

An exhibition featuring Callas jewelry for 18 operas -- including "La Gioconda," "Tristan and Isolde" and "La Traviata" -- is touring the major opera houses of the world. Swarovski is in discussions to bring the exhibition to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in May 2009.