Opera Synopsis—

Tosca

Cesare Angelotti, a political prisoner, has escaped and is seeking refuge in the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, where his sister, the Marchesa Attavanti, has left some clothes in the family chapel. He unlocks the Attavanti chapel and disappears within. A sacristan enters, expecting to find the painter Mario Cavaradossi at work on his portrait of Mary Magdalene, whose image bears a striking resemblance to the Marchesa Attavanti. Cavaradossi soon enters and reflects on the fact that he has indeed been secretly sketching the marchesa. The Magdalene’s blonde beauty contrasts the dark features of Floria Tosca, a famous singer and the woman he loves. Angelotti emerges from hiding and is recognized by Cavaradossi, who sympathizes with his struggle. While the two converse, Tosca enters and becomes suspicious of Cavaradossi speaking with another woman. Further enraged by jealousy when she distinguishes the likeness of the marchesa in Cavaradossi’s painting, Tosca soon leaves the church and Cavaradossi releases Angelotti from the chapel. A cannon signals the discovery of Angelotti’s escape and the two flee to Cavaradossi’s villa.

Meanwhile, Baron Scarpia, chief of the secret police, enters the church and orders a search for Angelotti. He deduces that Angelotti has indeed hidden in the chapel. Tosca returns, seeking Cavaradossi, but Scarpia implies that her lover must be with the marchesa. The jealous Tosca vows to disrupt the lovers and leaves the church in tears. Scarpia orders her followed and schemes to bring her into his power.

As Scarpia later dines alone in his room, his spy Spoletta arrives with the news that although Angelotti has not been found, they have captured Cavaradossi. Tosca, after receiving a note sent by Scarpia himself, arrives while Cavaradossi is ordered to the torture chamber. Agonized by her lover’s screams of pain, Tosca reveals Angelotti’s whereabouts and Cavaradossi is released. The gendarme Sciarrone hurries in, announcing that Napoleon’s defeat has turned to victory. Cavaradossi cries defiantly, “Vittoria!” Scarpia orders him executed. Spoletta enters to announce that, faced with capture, Angelotti has killed himself. At first vehemently repulsing Scarpia’s advances, Tosca shamefully consents after she realizes that she alone is the key to Cavaradossi’s fate. Scarpia pretends to order a mock execution for Cavaradossi. As he prepares a safe conduct for the lovers, Tosca discovers a knife. As Scarpia comes to embrace her she buries the knife in his chest. Gazing at his lifeless body, Tosca reflects, “And before this man all of Rome trembled” before slipping away.

It is almost dawn and Cavaradossi is led to the roof of the Castel Sant’Angelo. Tosca rushes in, giving him new hope, confessing to Scarpia’s murder. The two join in a duet, singing to the future. The firing squad appears and Tosca, explaining the mock execution, cautions Cavaradossi to feign death. The squad fires and he falls. “How well he acts it!” she cries. After the soldiers leave, she urges her lover to get up, but he does not move. Approaching his motionless figure, she realizes Scarpia has won. Spoletta rushes in to arrest Tosca for Scarpia’s murder, but she escapes to the battlements. Crying to Scarpia that they will meet before God, she leaps to her death.