Karita Mattila has taken on Tosca for the first time, singing the title role in Puccini's potboiler at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. (She'll be doing the role at the Met in 2009.) And to judge from the unscientific little poll we had in the right-hand column of this screen, plenty of people are interested (with some a bit skeptical).

So how is she??

Well, we can't tell you, because we can't find any reviews in English just yet. In the meantime, at least we can look. At left and below are some photos, all by Sakari Viika, of Siegwulf Turek's production.

Vladimir Kuzmenko and Juha Uusitalo are co-starring with Karita as the dashing Cavaradossi and the dastardly Scarpia, and Mikko Franck presides in the pit.

There will be four more performances of this Tosca from tomorrow night through September 21. Not surprisingly, they're all sold out.

More information on this and other Finnish National Opera productions is available at www.operafin.fi.