Colorado Springs Philharmonic Masterworks, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave. $21-$63; 520-7469; csphilharmonic.org.

Forget the mortal combat that takes place between Baron Scarpia and Floria Tosca in Puccini’s beloved operatic tragedy “Tosca.” For our community, the far more interesting encounter takes place behind the scenes as Josep Caballé- Domenech, from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and Martile Rowland, from Opera Theatre of the Rockies, collaborate for the first time.

With its rich orchestra and spectacular singing, a “semistaged” version of the beloved opera fills the Pikes Peak Center this weekend. It marks the first time Caballé-Domenech will conduct an opera in Colorado Springs.

“Josep and I have been talking a couple of years about doing a project,” said Rowland. “It’s a way to see his artistry in action, but maybe he’s trying me out.”

Rowland, the founder and artistic director of Opera Theatre, will provide key ingredients. She will handle the stage direction, which in this case mostly deals with timing entrances and exits. Her chorus of 80 singers adds color to the production. All the secondary vocal roles will be filled by Coloradans, all of whom have worked with Rowland before.

Finding the performers to realize the crucial principal roles created a new kind of challenge.

“The is the first time this old broad from the old school used a modern approach to casting,” said Rowland. “Now we have Internet and all these things.”

She, Caballé-Domenech and the philharmonic’s programming consultant, Alberto Gutierrez, collaborated on choosing their principals. “It was really fun,” she recalls. “We had different opinions about people, had conversations and came to conclusions, all without actually seeing them in the flesh.”

David Sckolnik, david.sckolnik@gazette.com

Soprano Mardi Byers brings the great operatic heroine Tosca to life this weekend.

Tenor José Luis Duval performs Cavaradossi, Tosca’s doomed lover.