Act 1 Tosca

the te deum scene concludes act 1; scarpia stands @ left. photograph of pre-1914 production @ old metropolitan opera house, new york

cesare angelotti, former consul of roman republic , escaped political prisoner, runs church , hides in attavanti private chapel – sister, marchesa attavanti, has left key chapel hidden @ feet of statue of madonna. elderly sacristan enters , begins cleaning. sacristan kneels in prayer angelus sounds.

the painter mario cavaradossi arrives continue work on picture of mary magdalene. sacristan identifies likeness between portrait , blonde-haired woman has been visiting church (unknown him, angelotti s sister marchesa). cavaradossi describes hidden harmony ( recondita armonia ) in contrast between blonde beauty of painting , dark-haired lover, singer floria tosca. sacristan mumbles disapproval before leaving.

angelotti emerges , tells cavaradossi, old friend has republican sympathies, being pursued chief of police, baron scarpia. cavaradossi promises assist him after nightfall. tosca s voice heard, calling cavaradossi. cavaradossi gives angelotti basket of food , angelotti hurriedly returns hiding place.

tosca enters , suspiciously asks cavaradossi has been doing – thinks has been talking woman. cavaradossi reassures , tosca tries persuade him take villa evening: non la sospiri, la nostra casetta ( not long our little cottage ). expresses jealousy on woman in painting, whom recognises marchesa attavanti. cavaradossi explains likeness; has merely observed marchesa @ prayer in church. reassures tosca of fidelity , asks eyes more beautiful own: qual occhio al mondo ( eyes in world ).

after tosca has left, angelotti reappears , discusses painter plan flee disguised woman, using clothes left in chapel sister. cavaradossi gives angelotti key villa, suggesting hide in disused in garden. sound of cannon signals angelotti s escape has been discovered. , cavaradossi hasten out of church.

the sacristan re-enters choristers, celebrating news napoleon has apparently been defeated @ marengo. celebrations cease abruptly entry of scarpia, henchman spoletta , several police agents. have heard angelotti has sought refuge in church. scarpia orders search, , empty food basket , fan bearing attavanti coat of arms found in chapel. scarpia questions sacristan, , suspicions aroused further when learns cavaradossi has been in church; scarpia mistrusts painter, , believes him complicit in angelotti s escape.

when tosca arrives looking lover, scarpia artfully arouses jealous instincts implying relationship between painter , marchesa attavanti. draws tosca s attention fan , suggests must have surprised lovers in chapel. tosca falls deceit; enraged, rushes off confront cavaradossi. scarpia orders spoletta , agents follow her, assuming lead them cavaradossi , angelotti. privately gloats reveals intentions possess tosca , execute cavaradossi. procession enters church singing te deum; exclaiming tosca, make me forget god! , scarpia joins chorus in prayer.