A church is actually a place of peace, prayer and meditation. The opposite is the case in Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca: he transforms the Roman basilica of Sant'Andrea into a playground for hidden rebels, jealous lovers, pious fresco painters and intruding policemen. At the end of the first act, however, the choirboys and altar boys sing a solemn Te Deum, in which the policeman Scarpia joins in. Johan de Meij skilfully arranged the famous melody for wind orchestra.