Overview
Synopsis
It is 1863. At a remote outpost in Italy, Captain Giorgio Bachetti and his beautiful lover Clara engage in a passionate relationship through letters, only reuniting through brief moments during Giorgio’s leave. But while he is at the outpost, Giorgio meets Fosca, the sickly and unattractive cousin of his superior officer. Focsa becomes obsessed with Giorgio and falls desperately in love with him. Giorgio refutes her advances, but cannot stay away from her, and finds himself understanding and appreciating her devotion to him. While he does love Clara, she is in Milan, and is married to another man. Giorgio realizes that he must make a choice and decide what kind of love he wants to have in his life. Will he continue the happiness of letters and an occasional reunion with the beautiful and devoted Clara? Or will he give in to the unrestrained passion of the sickly and obsessive Fosca?
Often performed in only one act, Passion is Stephen Sondheim’s adaptation of the 1869 novel Fosca, by Igino Ugo Tarchetti, and the 1981 Ettore Scola film Passione d’Amore. Its trademark Sondheim sound mixes layered vocals with a complex storyline of passion, devotion, and the ultimate cost of true love.
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Context
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Passion (1994) stands as one of the most unusual and uncompromising works in modern musical theatre. The piece originated from Ettore Scola’s 1981 Italian film Passione d’Amore, itself adapted from Iginio Ugo Tarchetti’s 19th-century novel Fosca. This lineage is significant, as it roots the musical in Romantic-era ideas of obsession, illness, and extreme emotional experience. Sondheim was drawn to the story’s psychological intensity, crafting a score that
to read the context for Passion and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Lights rise on Clara and Giorgio in the midst of an intense, all-consuming love affair. In each other’s arms, they seem to exist outside the world, united by a passion they believe to be absolute (“Happiness – Part I”). Their idyll is shattered when Giorgio, a soldier, reveals he has been ordered to leave Milan in five days for a remote outpost. Though he insists their love will endure the distance, Clara is devastated. Both reflect that they had never truly understood love before meeting one
to read the plot for Passion and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
Showing 8 of 14 characters
Interactive Character Map
Visualize how the characters in Passion connect and drive the story.
Understand the relationships that shape the story of Passion
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Passion.
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Songs
Showing 8 of 28 songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
The Transformative Power of Obsessive Love
This central theme portrays passion not as gentle affection but as a violent, life-affirming force capable of “cracking you open” in a “deadened world,” as Sondheim himself described it. Giorgio begins in a safe, sensual affair with the beautiful Clara, singing of ecstatic but rational happiness, yet Fosca’s unrelenting, unattractive obsession—embodying pure, unchosen passion—forces him to confront that “love within reason is not love
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Passion and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
A ballad is a song style that tells a story through simple, lyrical verses and a steady rhythm. In theatre, ballads are often slow and emotional, allowing characters to reveal deep feelings or reflect on personal journeys. They can be used to highlight romance, longing, or moments of dramatic intensity.
A chamber musical is a small-scale stage production with a limited cast and orchestra, often designed for intimate venues. The emphasis is typically on character, dialogue, and relationships rather than spectacle or large ensemble numbers. Its reduced scale allows for flexibility in staging and lower production demands.
A chamber opera is a small-scale opera typically written for a modest cast and reduced instrumental ensemble, designed for performance in intimate venues rather than large opera houses. These works often emphasize clarity of text, intimacy of storytelling, and flexibility of staging. Because of their size, chamber operas are especially popular with universities, regional companies, and groups exploring contemporary or experimental repertoire.
An “I Want Song” is a number, usually placed early in a musical, where a main character expresses their deepest desire or ambition. This song sets the character’s journey in motion and gives the audience a clear emotional stake in the story. It has become one of the most recognizable and enduring conventions of musical theatre structure.
Short for 'legitimate theatre,' referring to traditional stage drama as opposed to musical or commercial performance. The term is also used to describe a classical vocal tone suitable for operatic or legit musical theatre roles.
A production created to showcase the talents of a specific star performer, often tailored to their strengths.
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress