Beauty, passion, murder ... Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca," the final production of the Hawaii Opera Theatre's winter season, has it all.

It is the year 1800, Rome. The painter Mario Cavaradossi is the lover of famed singer Floria Tosca, whose jealousy is as explosive as her stage presence. Mario has a secret: He's helping an escaped political prisoner, Angelotti, who is pursued by the much-feared chief of police, Scarpia, and his henchman, Spoletta.

Scarpia wants Tosca for himself and uses the painter Mario as a pawn in his schemes. Tosca, however, has her own schemes to save her lover.

"Tosca" is being staged at 8 p.m. today, 4 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Today's show is almost sold out; Sunday's is a sellout. Tickets are $29-$100. 596-7858, www.hawaiiopera.org.