Tosca

Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, with libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on the play of the same name by Victorien Sardou. Debuted at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on January 14, 1900. At the time, the political atmosphere in Italy was tense, with much revolutionary agitation of socialist and anarchist character.

Synopsis:

The story takes place in Rome in July 1800.

A republican militant on the run, Angelotti hides in the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle, where Mario Cavaradossi completes a painting of Mary Magdalene. The sexton ponders that the portrait reminds him of a woman who used to pray there. Cavaradossi says that for this “unknown beauty”, he thinks only of his lover, the singer Tosca.

Angelotti leaves the hiding place and Cavaradossi offers him help. Tosca arrives and Angelotti goes back into hiding. Dreaming of love, she tells Cavaradossi to meet her after her nightly recital. Tosca recognizes the Marquise Attavanti, Angelotti's sister, in the painting, and has a fit of jealousy. Cavaradossi reaffirms his love and convinces her to leave. When Angelotti reappears, shots are heard signaling that his escape has been discovered, and Cavaradossi offers his mansion as a hiding place.

Scarpia, the chief of police, arrives in search of the fugitive, but only finds a fan forgotten in the church by the marquise. When Tosca returns, Scarpia teases her that the portrait is of an adulteress and shows her the fan as proof. Furious, Tosca goes to Cavaradossi's mansion, followed by Scarpia's agents.

Meanwhile, the crown celebrates a victory over Napoleon by celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving. During the mass, Scarpia can't stop dreaming of having Tosca in her arms.

The chase continues, but Angelotti remains at large. Cavaradossi is arrested and taken to the Farnese Palace. Scarpia interrogates him but he denies knowing anything about Angelotti. Tosca arrives and Scarpia orders Cavaradossi to be taken to the torture chamber. She hears his groans and Scarpia says she can put an end to his suffering. Tosca refuses and the torture continues. She can't take it anymore and ends up revealing Angelotti's hiding place.

Cavaradossi feels betrayed by Tosca but lets out shouts of joy when he hears the news of Napoleon's victory over the crown. Scarpia has him executed. After Cavaradossi is taken away, he turns to Tosca and tells her that she can save her lover's life if she gives herself to him.

Tosca is upset and hesitates. News of Angelotti's suicide arrives and she accepts Scarpia's conditions, but insists that her lover also be released. Scarpia says the two will be able to escape after a faked execution. He writes a pass for lovers. Shortly after Scarpia signs the document, Tosca stabs him in the heart and flees.

Hours later, waiting for his execution at Castel Sant'Angelo, Cavaradossi thinks of Tosca. Suddenly, she arrives with the safe-conduct. She tells how she killed Scarpia and tells her lover that a carriage awaits them. But first he will have to undergo a false execution.

Cavaradossi is taken to the castle roof and shots are heard. He topples over and Tosca approaches, telling him to be quiet until the soldiers leave. But then she realizes, to her horror, that he is dead. When the police arrive to arrest her for Scarpia's murder, she jumps to her death.