Repertoire

 

Monarchical Italy in 1800. In the morning, when the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle in Rome is still closed to believers, the former consul of the Roman Republic, Cesare Angelotti, secretly makes his way there after breaking out of prison. Here in the ancestral chapel of his sister, the Marchesa of Attavanti, women's clothing is hidden, which he must change into in order to escape Rome, fleeing the persecution of the head of the Roman police, Baron Scarpia.

The painter Mario Cavaradossi works at the church, as well as the sacristan who waits on him. Cavaradossi draws the sinner Magdalene. The sacristan draws attention to the similarity of Magdalene with the Marchesa Attavanti, who prayed at the temple yesterday. When the sacristan leaves, Cavaradossi notices Angelotti. Mario wants to help the exhausted fugitive, but suddenly Floria Tosca appears - a famous singer throughout Rome, the first beauty with whom the artist is in love. She came to the church to arrange a meeting with Mario: today after the performance they will be able to spend the evening together at Cavaradossi’s home.

 

The inattentiveness of Cavaradossi and his desire to quickly be alone sooner provoke Tosca's jealous suspicions. Jealousy translates into confidence in betrayal when, in Magdalene, who Mario is painting, Tosca also recognizes the Marchesa Attavanti. The artist reassures Tosca and persuades her to go.

 

Cavaradossi returns to Angelotti and offers to hide him at his house: there, in case of pursuit, it will be possible for him to hide in a well near the garden.

 

A cannon shot is heard, announcing the escape of Angelotti. Cavaradossi hastily leads the fugitive through a secret passage.

 

The sacristan runs in to announce the victory over Bonaparte, but does not find the artist. A crowd of children fills the church; the good news turns the preparation for the solemn Mass into a farce, which at that moment is interrupted by the appearance of the police, led by Baron Scarpia.

 

The police raid the church. Scarpia asks the sacristan if he had seen Angelotti. A frightened sacristan finds direct evidence of the presence of an outsider in the temple: the doors to the Attavanti Chapel are open, and the food basket is empty, although Cavaradossi refused to have breakfast. Scarpia realizes that the artist helped the criminal hide.

 

Tosca returns to the church; her soul is chafed by jealousy. Scarpia decides to use the temper and suspicion of the singer. He shows her a fan with the coat of arms of Attavanti, which Angelotti lost, and hints that it was with the Marchesa that the artist left. In desperation, Tosca hurries to Mario's house to expose his betrayal. Scarpia sends surveillance with her: Tosca will lead them to the fugitive. Now Angelotti will be caught, but Scarpia has another goal as well: he also wants to throw Cavaradossi into prison. Then Tosca - Scarpia's long-standing passion - will become his.

 

 

Scarpia’s parlor. The baron is waiting for Tosca. She will come to him after singing a magnificent cantata in honor of the victory over Napoleon. Spoletta enters the office and reports that Tosca was in Cavaradossi’s house for a short time, the criminal Angelotti was not found there, but the police arrested the artist.

 

The interrogation of Cavaradossi gives no results. Tosca appears in the parlor, Cavaradossi quietly asks her to keep the secret. Scarpia orders the torture of the artist. The groans of Mario makes Tosca betray that Angelotti is hiding in the well. Scarpia sends Spoletta to Angelotti.

 

Sciarrone brings the news that Napoleon defeated the monarchists at the battle of Morengo. Cavaradossi does not hide his joy. An enraged Scarpia gives the order to execute the artist. Cavaradossi will pay for his hatred of the monarchy with his life.

 

Tosca begs the baron to have mercy on Cavaradossi. Scarpia promises to pardon him if Tosca becomes his mistress. To save Mario’s life - that is what concerns Tosca - she agrees.

 

Scarpia promises to punish Spoletta during execution by firing blanks at Cavaradossi. And when the soldiers leave, Tosca and Cavaradossi will be able to escape. In fact, Cavaradossi would be executed as "Count Palmieri", who was also promised to be shot with blanks.

 

At the request of Tosca, Scarpia issues a pass that will allow Tosca and Cavaradossi to leave Rome. When Scarpia passionately rushes to Tosca, she stabs him with a dagger.

 

 

Sant’Angelo Prison, where Mario Cavaradossi is now. In an hour, will be the time of his execution. From afar, the song of a Shepherdess sounds.

 

The artist asks the Jailer to give his last letter to Tosca and recalls the happiest moments of their love.

 

Tosca runs in. She shows Cavaradossi the pass and tells him that she killed Scarpia, and that the execution will be fake: after hearing the shots, Mario must fall, and after the soldiers leave, they will be free. Cavaradossi tries to believe in this unexpected pardon and soothes his weary beloved.

 

The Jailer comes for the artist - the time for execution is here. A shot is heard, Cavaradossi falls. Tosca rushes to Cavaradossi, but he does not answer her pleas. He was killed: Scarpia's order to shoot blanks was not true.

 

Sciarrone and Spoletta run in. With the murder of Scarpia uncovered, they must arrest the singer, but Tosca does not allow herself to be seized and throws herself off the tower.