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Tosca MELODRAMMA IN THREE ACTS In 1889 Fontano, the librettist of "Le Villi" and Edgar", suggested "La Tosca" to Puccini as the subject of a new opera, but it took time for the publisher Ricordi to arrange for the rights to the play. While negotiations proceeded, Puccini worked on "Manon Lescaut" and "La Bohème". Since the author of "La Tosca", Victorien Sardou, didn't like Puccini's music — in fact, he only listened to fragments of "Le Villi" and "Edgar" — Ricordi acquired the play for Alberto Franchetti, Puccini's rival, and Luigi Illica. At first, Puccini was not so interested in "Tosca" because he still had qualms about the subject matter, but the interview of Franchetti and Illica with Sardou in Paris, and the assistance of Verdi there, awakened Puccini's interest, and he decided that he wanted to compose Tosca after all. This may have been what Ricordi had intended, believing that Puccini would have more success. At last, Ricordi diplomatically dissuaded Franchetti from setting it to music, which left Puccini free to compose the opera with Illica as librettist. Although Puccini had to interrupt his work for trips abroad to supervise rehearsals and be present at performances of "Manon Lescaut" and "La Bohème", he continued the composition, including going to Rome to listen to the church bells in the early morning, talking to priests about details of the liturgy of the "Te Deum", and consulting Luigi Zanazzo, poet and librarian, for the lines of the shepherd's song. The premiere was successful, and like "Manon Lescaut" and "La Bohème", this piece became one of the best-known operas in the repertory of the major opera houses of the world. |
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| PROTAGONISTS
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Floria Tosca, a singer (soprano) Mario Cavaradossi, a painter (tenor) Scarpia, chief of police (baritone) Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner (bass) Sacristan (bass) Spoletta, a police agent (tenor) Sciarrone, a gendarme (bass) A gaoler (bass) A Shepherd (boy soprano) a Cardinal, a Judge, Roberti (an executioner), a Scribe, an Officer, a Sergeant (silent), Soldiers, Police agents, Noblemen and women, Townsfolk, |
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| PREMIÈRE | Teatro Costanzi, Roma,
January 14th 1900 Floria Tosca: Haricleé Darclée |
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| INSTRUMENTATION | 3 Fl (2 also Picc), 2 Ob, Eng hn, 2
Cl, BCl, 2 Bn, DBn, 4 Hn, 3 Tpt, 3 Tbn, BTbn, Timp, Trg, Tamb, T-T, GC, Cymb, Car, Cel,
Cmp, Harp, Strings; On stage: Fl, Vla, Harp, 4 Hn, 3 Tbn, Camp, Organ, 2 Dr, Rifles,
Cannon. |
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| CHORUS | Medium-Sized chorus part, also children chorus | |
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| SYNOPSIS | ACT I: The interior of the
church of Sant Andrea della Valle. The political prisoner Angelotti escapes from the
prison Castello Sant'Angelo and hides in the church. The painter Cavaradossi arrives and
resumes work on a painting of Mary Magdalene. Angelotti reemerges and makes himself known
to his friend Cavaradossi, who promises to help him to escape to safety. The voice of
Tosca, Cavaradossi's girl friend, is heard outside and Cavaradossi rushes Angelotti back
into the chapel. When she sees a likeness of the marchesa Attavanti, Angelotti's sister,
in the painting, she becomes jealous. However Cavaradossi declares his love passionately
and they arrange to meet again later that night. After Tosca's departure, a cannon shot
from the prison announces that Angelotti's escape has been discovered. The two men leave
in haste. The chief of police Scarpia enters, and finds the marchesa Attavanti's fan. He
plays on Tosca's jealous nature by showing her the fan. She rushes off to Cavaradossi's
villa to which she is followed by Scarpia's agent Spoletta. ACT II: In a room in the Farnese Palace. Scarpia's agent has been unable to find Angelotti, so he brings in Cavaradossi instead. Scarpia tortures Cavaradossi in order to get information about Angelotti's whereabouts. Cavaradossi's cries of pain can be heard as Scarpia questions Tosca, who finally, unable to endure her lover's painful cries any longer, reveals Angelotti's hiding place. Cavaradossi is condemned to death because he is considered to be a republican sympathizer. Scarpia agrees to spare Cavaradossi's life if Tosca will give herself to him. Tosca accepts. After signing a safe conduct, Scarpia advances toward Tosca, but she stabs him to death. ACT III: The ramparts of Castello Sant'Angelo. At dawn Cavaradossi writes a last letter to Tosca. Suddenly Tosca arrives and tells him that Scarpia has agrred to stage a "mock execution" with blank ammunition instead of real bullets. The firing squad arrives and shoots. Cavaradossi falls to the ground and the soldiers go off. Cavaradossi is dead. Tosca realizes the fiendish trick Scarpia has played on her. Scarpias death has been discovered and the soldiers rush up to arrest her. Tosca throws herself off the parapet and cries that she will meet Scarpia before God. |
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| LIBRETTO | ACT I | |
| ACT II | ||
| ACT III | ||
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