the execution of cavaradossi @ end of act 3. soldiers fire, tosca looks away. photograph of pre-1914 production metropolitan opera
the third act s tranquil beginning provides brief respite drama. introductory 16-bar theme horns later sung cavaradossi , tosca in final duet. orchestral prelude follows portrays roman dawn; pastoral aura accentuated shepherd boy s song, , sounds of sheep bells , church bells, authenticity of latter validated puccini s morning visits rome. themes reminiscent of scarpia, tosca , cavaradossi emerge in music, changes tone drama resumes cavaradossi s entrance, orchestral statement of becomes melody of aria e lucevan le stelle .
mario cavaradossi (modelled on tenor giancarlo monsalve) singing e lucevan le stelle in painting riccardo manci
this farewell love , life, anguished lament , grief built around words muoio disperato (i die in despair) . puccini insisted on inclusion of these words, , later stated admirers of aria had treble cause grateful him: composing music, having lyrics written, , declining expert advice throw result in waste-paper basket . lovers final duet amaro sol per te , concludes act s opening horn music, did not equate ricordi s idea of transcendental love duet fitting climax opera. puccini justified musical treatment citing tosca s preoccupation teaching cavaradossi feign death.
in execution scene follows, theme emerges, incessant repetition of reminded newman of transformation music separates 2 parts of act 1 in wagner s parsifal. in final bars, tosca evades spoletta , leaps death, theme of e lucevan le stelle played tutta forze (as loudly possible). choice of ending has been criticised analysts, because of specific association cavaradossi rather tosca. joseph kerman mocked final music, tosca leaps, , orchestra screams first thing comes head. budden, however, argues entirely logical end dark opera on blackest theme. according historian , former opera singer susan vandiver nicassio: conflict between verbal , musical clues gives end of opera twist of controversy that, barring unexpected discovery among puccini s papers, can never resolved.
Comments
Post a Comment