Overview
Synopsis
A tragic and political love story, Tosca explores how love overcomes all. Mario Cavaradossi, a painter, is deeply in love with Floria Tosca, a famous singer. Cavaradossi helps aid his friend Angelotti who is being pursued by the Chief of Police, Scarpia. He bursts in the church where Cavaradossi is working, interrupting a celebration. There was a rumor that Angelotti was hiding there, and Scarpia interrogates the Sacristan, discovering that the church is the workplace of Cavaradossi. Tosca returns, expecting to catch Cavaradossi with a lover, but finds Scarpia instead. Scarpia, cruelly, encourages Tosca’s jealousy, in hopes that she lead him to Cavaradossi. Tosca plays into his plan and rushes off to find Cavaradossi. Scarpia summons Tosca to his home, having arrested Cavaradossi. Cavaradossi denies his knowledge of Angelotti’s escape, but he is taken away to be tortured. Scarpia proposes a deal to Tosca that if she gives herself to him, he will free her lover. Tosca finally consents after he writes a consent of freedom for Cavaradossi, but then stabs Scarpia to death. Cavaradossi is to be executed, but Tosca shows up and has a plan to free him. Cavaradossi must feign death in front of the shooting squad as they will not actually shoot him, due to her deal with Scarpia.They shoot Cavaradossi, but Tosca discovers that Scarpia has betrayed her and Cavaradossi has actually been killed. Scarpia’s henchmen come to arrest Tosca for Scarpia’s murder, but she hurls herself over the edge of the building to her death.
Show Information
- Music
- Giacomo Puccini
- Libretto
- Giuseppe Giacosa , Luigi Illica
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1900
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Settings
- Spectacle
- Time & Place
- Rome, 1800
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Tosca is based on the play, La Tosca, by the French playwright, Victorien Sardou, which Puccini felt was a perfect choice to adapt into an opera. Puccini saw the play a handful of times in Milan and Turin, and began negotiations with Sardou and his agents, but Sardou wanted a French composer to adapt the play. Through some further negotiations with Ricordi (the head of the publishing company), Sardou agreed to give the rights to Puccini. Luigi Illica was chosen as librettist, who
to read the context for Tosca and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act I:
The opera opens on the Church of Sant’Andrea Della Valle where Cesare Angelotti, the former Consul of the Roman Republic, has escaped from prison. Angelotti hides in the private chapel of the church because his sister, Marchesa Attavanti, left a key for him at the feel of the Madonna statue. After Angelotti has hidden, the Sacristan begins cleaning the church. Mario Cavaradossi, a painter, arrives to continue his work on a painting of Mary Magdalene. The Sacristan comments
to read the plot for Tosca and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Treble/Boy Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Act I: The Church of Sant’Andrea Della Valle
- Scena (Angelotti, Sagrestano, Cavaradossi)
- Aria: Recondita armonia (Cavaradossi)
- Duetto e Scena: Non la sospiri, la nostra casetta… Qual’occhio al mondo (Tosca, Cavaradossi)
- Scena (Cavaradossi, Angelotti, Sagrestano, Coro, Scarpia, Spoletta)
- Scena (Tosca, Scarpia)
- Finale Primo Atto (Scarpia, Spoletta, Coro)
Act II: Palazzo Farnese (Scarpia’s apartment)
- Scena ed Aria (Scarpia, Sciarrone, Spoletta)
- Coro e Scena (Coro, Cavaradossi, Scarpia, Tosca, Spoletta)
- Arioso (Scarpia)
- Aria: Vissi d’arte (Tosca)
- Scena (Tosca, Scarpia, Spoletta)
Act III: The platform of the Castel Sant’Angelo
- Scena (A Shepherd, Jailer, Cavaradossi)
- Aria: E lucevan le stelle (Cavaradossi)
- Duetto e Scena (Tosca, Cavaradossi)
- Finale (Tosca, Spoletta, Sciarrone,Some Soldiers)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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