tosca reverently lays crucifix on scarpia s body. photograph of pre-1914 production @ old metropolitan opera house, new york
scarpia s apartment in palazzo farnese, evening
scarpia, @ supper, sends note tosca asking come apartment. has been unable find angelotti, has arrested cavaradossi. cavaradossi brought in , questioned, voice of tosca, singing celebratory cantata in room in palace, can heard. cavaradossi denies knowing angelotti s escape.
tosca arrives in time see lover taken antechamber tortured. able speak briefly her, telling nothing. tosca told scarpia can save lover indescribable pain if reveals angelotti s hiding place. resists, hearing cavaradossi s cries of agony, tells scarpia angelotti in in garden of cavaradossi s villa.
scarpia orders torture of cavaradossi cease , wounded painter brought in. recovers consciousness and, learning of tosca s betrayal, furious her. sciarrone, police agent, enters news of napoleon s victory @ marengo; cavaradossi gloats, telling scarpia rule of terror @ end, before being dragged away scarpia s men.
scarpia, left tosca, proposes bargain: if gives herself him, cavaradossi freed. revolted, , repeatedly rejects advances. outside hears drums announce execution; scarpia awaits decision, prays god help, asking why has abandoned her: vissi d arte ( lived art ). scarpia remains adamant despite pleas.
when spoletta brings news angelotti has killed himself, , in place cavaradossi s execution, tosca, in despair, agrees submit scarpia in return cavaradossi s freedom. scarpia tells deputy spoletta arrange mock execution, both recalling did count palmieri .
following spoletta s departure, tosca imposes further condition scarpia provide safe-conduct out of rome herself , lover. while signing document, tosca quietly takes knife supper table. scarpia triumphantly embraces her, stabs him, crying tosca s kiss! . scarpia falls dead, declares forgives him. removes safe-conduct pocket, lights candles in gesture of piety , places crucifix on body before leaving.
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