Synopsis Tosca

1 synopsis

1.1 historical context
1.2 act 1
1.3 act 2
1.4 act 3

synopsis
historical context


the battle of marengo, painted louis-françois lejeune

according libretto, action of tosca occurs in rome in june 1800. sardou, in play, dates more precisely; la tosca takes place in afternoon, evening, , morning of 17 , 18 june 1800.

italy had long been divided number of small states, pope in rome ruling papal states in central italy. following french revolution, french army under napoleon invaded italy in 1796, entering rome unopposed on 11 february 1798 , establishing republic there. republic ruled 7 consuls; in opera office formerly held angelotti, character may based on real-life consul libero angelucci. in september 1799 french, had protected republic, withdrew rome. left, troops of kingdom of naples occupied city.

in may 1800 napoleon, undisputed leader of france, brought troops across alps italy once again. on 14 june army met austrian forces @ battle of marengo (near alessandria). austrian troops successful; mid-morning in control of field of battle. commander, michael von melas, sent news south towards rome. however, fresh french troops arrived in late afternoon, , napoleon attacked tired austrians. melas retreated in disarray remains of army, sent second courier south revised message. neapolitans abandoned rome, , city spent next fourteen years under french domination.

act 1

inside church of sant andrea della valle

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.

act 2

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.

act 3

the upper parts of castel sant angelo, following morning

the castel sant angelo, (right), scene of tosca denouement, painted in 18th century

a shepherd boy sings (in romanesco dialect) io de sospiri ( give sighs ) church bells sound matins. cavaradossi led in guards , informed has 1 hour live. refuses see priest, asks permission write letter tosca. begins write, overwhelmed memories: e lucevan le stelle ( , stars shone ).

tosca enters , shows him safe-conduct. tells him has killed scarpia , imminent execution sham: cavaradossi must feign death, afterwards can leave rome together, before scarpia s body discovered. cavaradossi amazed @ courage shown 1 gentle , tender: o dolci mani ( oh sweet hands ). pair ecstatically plan life live away rome. tosca anxiously instructs cavaradossi on how play part in mock execution convincingly. tells him shot blanks firing squad , instructs him fall down if dead. agrees act tosca in theatre .

cavaradossi led away, , tosca watches increasing impatience execution prepared. men fire, cavaradossi falls, , tosca exclaims ecco un artista! ( actor! ). when soldiers have left, hurries towards cavaradossi, find dead; scarpia has betrayed her. heartbroken, clasps lifeless body , weeps.

the voices of spoletta, sciarrone , soldiers heard, indicating scarpia s body has been found, , tosca known have killed him. spoletta, sciarrone , soldiers rush in, tosca rises, evades clutches, , runs parapet. crying o scarpia, avanti dio! ( o scarpia, meet before god! ), hurls herself on edge death.