Giacomo Puccini
Opera
The action occurs in Rome on 17 June 1800.
opera in three acts
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
based on the eponymous drama by Victorien Sardou
The premiere took place at the Teatro Costanzi on 14 January 1900 (Rome)
At the Astana Opera House, the premiere took place on 9 May 2014
Performed in Italian
(accompanied by synchronized captions in Kazakh and Russian)
ACT I
The church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, Rome
Monarchical Italy of 1800. Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, sneaks into the church. Here, in the family chapel of his sister Marchesa Attavanti, a set of women’s clothes has been hidden for his escape.
In the church, the painter Mario Cavaradossi is working on the likeness of Mary Magdalene. The Sacristan who is serving him is surprised by the resemblance between the portrait and Marchesa Attavanti, who was praying in the church the day before. Left alone, Cavaradossi sees Angelotti hiding in the church. He wants to help the fugitive, but suddenly his beloved, Floria Tosca, a celebrated singer, calls him. Cavaradossi’s distraction raises jealous suspicion in Tosca, which increases when she recognizes Marchesa Attavanti in Mario’s painting. With great effort, the painter manages to reassure Tosca and persuades her to leave.
Cavaradossi returns to Angelotti and offers him shelter in his house, where, in case of pursuit, Angelotti can hide in a garden well. The sound of a cannon signals that Angelotti’s escape has been discovered. He and Cavaradossi hasten out of the church.
Preparations for the celebratory Mass are starting. The Chief of Police Scarpia rushes into the church with his police agents, seeking the fugitive. The fan with Attavanti’s initials found in the chapel and Cavaradossi’s empty basket of food put Scarpia on the trail.
Tormented by jealousy, Tosca returns to the church. Scarpia decides to use the singer’s suspiciousness. He shows Tosca the fan and suggests that the painter has left with the Marchesa. In despair, she rushes off to Mario’s house and Scarpia orders his agents to follow her. Tosca becomes an unwitting participant in Scarpia’s hellish plan not only to catch the fugitive, but also to possess Tosca – the object of his secret passion…
The church is filled with the chapel choir and the townspeople. The church service begins. The congregation sings the Te Deum.
ACT II
Palazzo Farnese
Scarpia is waiting for reports in his office. Baron sends Tosca an invitation to come to him after she finishes singing the celebratory cantata, which is performed to commemorate the victory of the Italian army over Napoleon. Agent Spoletta reports that the offender Angelotti has not been found at Cavaradossi’s house, but the police arrested the artist himself.
The interrogation of Cavaradossi gives no results. Cavaradossi tells Tosca to say nothing. Scarpia gives the prisoner into the hands of the executioner.
In vain, Scarpia tries to find out her secret with enticing speeches. Only the prisoner’s tortured screams break Tosca’s composure and she reveals the location of the fugitive. Scarpia sends Spoletta for Angelotti. Sciarrone, a police agent, enters with news that the celebration was premature: in the Battle of Marengo Napoleon’s troops defeated the Italian monarchists. Cavaradossi does not conceal his joy. Enraged Scarpia orders to throw the artist in jail.
Tosca implores Scarpia to free Cavaradossi. Scarpia promises to pardon the artist if Tosca becomes his mistress. Her beloved’s salvation in the only thing on her mind at the moment – she agrees.
Scarpia promises her to arrange a mock execution. At her request, Scarpia provides a safe-conduct out of Rome for her and her lover. As Scarpia triumphantly embraces her, she plunges a knife into his chest.
With the document in hand, Tosca hurries to Cavaradossi.
ACT III
Castel Sant’Angelo
Cavaradossi is waiting for his execution, which will start in an hour. He writes a farewell letter to Tosca.
Tosca rushes in and heatedly tells him about Scarpia’s murder and that the execution will be a sham: Cavaradossi must feign death, but after the soldiers’ departure they will be able to escape.
The soldiers enter. A shot rang out, and the painter falls down. Tosca rushes to him, only to find him already dead. Scarpia’s order to shoot blanks was a despicable lie.
The police agents and the soldiers rush into the prison yard. Scarpia’s murder is discovered, but Tosca is determined not to let them seize her. She throws herself over the edge of the ramparts.