Tosca

by Puccini

[This synopsis, like my others, is very, very brief. The reason is that I find the normal programme note much too long, and needlessly detailed and complicated. What I want is more of an overview. If I’ve read an overview – a sort of synopsis of a synopsis – I find that, particularly with the help of surtitles, there is then absolutely no need for a blow-by-blow description of the plot.]

The opera, set in Rome in 1800, is about the confrontation between the singer Floria Tosca and the evil and licentious Scarpia, the chief of police - a confrontation that ends tragically for both of them.

Tosca’s boyfriend, the painter Mario Cavaradossi, is helping the rebellious republican Cesare Andreotti escape from the clutches of Scarpia. The First Act takes place in a church where Andreotti is hiding and where Cavaradossi is painting a fresco. Cavaradossi has been using Andreotti’s very beautiful sister as his model for Mary Magdalene in the fresco. Tosca recognizes her as painted and is jealously suspicious of Cavaradossi.

Scarpia arrives with two things on his mind: how to find and arrest Andreotti; and how to get his wicked way with Tosca. He manages to make use of her jealousy in an attempt to find Andreotti – helped by the sister having left her fan behind in the church.

In the Second Act, Cavaradossi has been arrested (although not Andreotti). Scarpia has him tortured and Tosca, hearing his screams, starts to give way to Scarpia. She discloses Andreotti’s whereabouts and agrees to comply with Scarpia’s unwelcome advances – subject to conditions.

These conditions involve a fake execution of Cavaradossi (who has been condemned to death, as described below), followed by a safe-conduct allowing her and Caravadossi to escape. But none of this happens: Scarpia gives instructions for the execution to be carried out in reality; and as Scarpia is signing the safe-conduct she stabs him to death.

The Third Act takes place in the Castel Sant’Angelo and deals with the execution. She and Caravadossi both think it will be fake. It isn’t. When Tosca discovers the truth, she throws herself off the wall of the Castel.

(In the Second Act, there is a certain amount happening in the background connected with the Napoleonic Wars. Scarpia is initially delighted to hear that the Austrians have defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Marengo. They then get the news that in fact Napoleon won. Cavaradossi is jubilant. Scarpia is enraged by this and condemns him to death.)