Tosca Synopsis

Set in Rome, during the Napoleonic Wars

Act I
Church of Sant’ Andrea della Valle
Escaped political prisoner Cesare Angelotti fi nds refuge in a private chapel of the church, fl eeing from Scarpia, the chief of Rome’s secret police. As the church’s Sacristan tends to the daily chores, the painter Mario Cavaradossi arrives to continue a painting of Mary Magdalene. When Cavaradossi is left alone, Angelotti emerges, seeking the help of his friend and political ally. Th ey are interrupted by the arrival of Floria Tosca, Cavaradossi’s lover and Rome’s esteemed diva. Her jealousy is piqued when she notices that the Mary Magdalene that Cavaradossi has painted is too beautiful and resembles a woman known as Attavanti. Cavaradossi calms her and promises to meet her later that evening. Aft er Tosca’s departure, he and Angelotti escape to Cavaradossi’s villa at the edge of town.

The Sacristan begins preparations for the Te Deum, which will be celebrated that evening at the church. Th e unexpected arrival of Scarpia and his henchman Spoletta interrupts the proceeding. Th ey search for clues of Angelotti’s whereabouts. Tosca returns to tell Cavaradossi that she has been summoned to sing at a Gala that evening celebrating Napoleon’s defeat in the battle of Marengo. Scarpia invokes Tosca’s jealously and secretly sends his spies to follow her to Cavaradossi’s hideaway. Th e Te Deum commences as Scarpia vows to hang the traitors and seduce the diva.

Act II
Palazzo Farnese
From his headquarters, Scarpia summons Tosca. Cavaradossi, meanwhile, has been captured by Spoletta and brought to Scarpia. Cavaradossi denies knowing anything about Angelotti’s whereabouts. When Tosca arrives, Cavaradossi is led into an adjacent room and tortured. His screams torment Tosca and she reveals that Cavaradossi is, in fact, harboring a fugitive. The torture ceases, and instead Cavaradossi is led away to jail and an eventual execution. Now alone with Scarpia, Tosca agrees to surrender to his amorous advances only if he guarantees to spare her lover’s life. Scarpia orders a fake execution, but when he demands that Tosca uphold her part of the deal, she stabs him to death.

Act III
Castel Sant’Angelo
The church bells and the voice of a Shepard Boy announce dawn. Cavaradossi is held captive, awaiting his execution. Tosca arrives and relays that she has murdered Scarpia, but not before extracting from him orders for the fake execution and a set of safe-conduct papers so they could escape Rome together. The firing squad assembles, and Tosca instructs Cavaradossi to act out a convincing death. After the firing squad departs, Tosca insists that Cavaradossi rise and flee with her. There is no response. Scarpia’s promise was a false one, and Cavaradossi is dead. Voices below indicate that Scarpia’s murder is discovered. As Spoletta rushes in to arrest Tosca, she climbs to the top of the battlements and leaps to her death, crying that God will be their judge.