Tosca – Giacomo Puccini Opera

Italian Opera on Love, Lust, Deceit, Murder and Political Intrigue.

Nov 10, 2008

Tosca is an Italian tragedy in three acts. Includes opera facts, main character list, plot summary and interesting notes.

In order to have a better opera experience, it is a good idea to acquaint yourself with the story so even if you don't fully understand the words, you can still interpret and appreciate the play. Here are a few interesting facts on the opera, followed by the main character list and synopsis of the opera.

Main Characters in Tosca

Plot Summary of Tosca

Act I Sant’Andrea della Valle church chapel

Political prisoner Angelotti, escapes the Castel Sant’Angelo and hides in the Attavanti chapel. The Sacristan and Cavaradossi arrive and Cavaradossi continues work on the portrait of the Maria Maddelena, inspired by the Marchesa Attavanti, a woman he has never met. He compares the painting to his beloved Tosca.

The Sacristan leaves in disapproval and Angelotti reveals himself asking for help. Cavaradossi gives him his food basket urging him to hide when he hears Tosca arriving. She is suspicious, thinking Cavaradossi was talking with another woman and is jealous of the painting. He reassures her of his love and agrees to meet later.

The boom of a canon announces the discovery of Angelotti’s escape; Cavaradossi vows to save him at all costs and both hurriedly leave. The Sacristan and choir return for a rehearsal to celebrate the supposed defeat of Napoleon but is interrupted by Scarpia, searching for Angelotti. They find a fan with the Attavanti family crest and the now empty basket. The Sacristan’s amazement at the empty basket leads Scarpia to conclude that the painter assisted Angelotti.

Tosca returns and Scarpia uses the fan to deceive her, claiming Cavaradossi has been unfaithful. Jealous, she angrily departs, secretly followed by Scarpia’s spies. Scarpia savors not only the thought of capturing the painter and prisoner, but also of possessing Tosca.

Act II Scarpia’s quarters, Farnese Palace

Scarpia is dining alone, imagining Tosca yielding to him. Spoletta informs him that they only located Cavaradossi and brings him in for questioning. He reveals nothing. Tosca is summoned and Cavaradossi furtively instructs her to remain quiet about Angelotti before being led away to be tortured.

Unable to bear his screams of pain, Tosca bargains for her lover’s freedom. Cavaradossi’s anger at learning of Tosca’s betrayal changes to euphoria and triumph as news arrives of Napoleons’ victory rather than defeat. A jubilant Cavaradossi is marched off to await execution.

Scarpia deviously persuades Tosca to give herself to him in exchange for Cavaradossi’s freedom (after a mock execution). Upon hearing that Angelotti committed suicide rather than be recaptured, Tosca despairingly agrees. She requests a document for safe-passage from Scarpia and once written, he comes to claim her. Using a knife from his table, Tosca stabs him. She positions the body as if for burial, takes the letter and leaves.

Act III Top floor, Castel Sant’Angelo

Cavaradossi bribes the guard to take a letter to Tosca where he expresses his intense love for her. Sadness becomes joy when she enters his cell and relates what occurred between her and Scarpia explaining the mock execution. Guards arrive and the execution takes place. Tosca realizes Scarpia’s trickery when she discovers Cavaradossi is dead. Scarpia’s murder is discovered and guards return to arrest her. Rather than be captured, she leaps from the castle parapet to her death.

Note:

Puccini and Sardou disputed two points. “Sardou gave in on the first point and allowed Puccini to replace a patriotic hymn of the imprisoned Cavaradossi with a love song. He did not acquiesce on the second matter: he wanted an abrupt, thundering finale, while Puccini had in mind a more elaborated setting of Tosca's death.” Stanford University OperaGlass

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