Tosca
Giacomo Puccini
Melodrama in three acts
The Plot
Rome in 1800. Angelotti, consul of the former Roman Republic, has escaped from Castel Sant'Angelo and is taking refuge in the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle, where his sister the Marquise Attavanti has hidden some women's clothes that will allow him to go unnoticed. The woman has been unknowingly portrayed by the painter Mario Cavaradossi. The latter notices Angelotti, whom he has known for some time and who reveals his situation to him. Suddenly they are interrupted by the arrival of Tosca, who, recognising in the painting of Maddalena the features of the Marquise, makes a jealous scene at Mario, who with difficulty manages to calm her down and dismiss her. Angelotti comes out of his hiding place and resumes his conversation with Mario who directs him to his villa. Suddenly Scarpia, chief of police, arrives and strongly suspects Mario. To find Angelotti he tries to involve Tosca, arousing her morbid jealousy. The woman believes Scarpia's words and vows to find them. Scarpia has her followed. While at the Palazzo Farnese Scarpia is dining Spoletta, a henchman, leads Mario to him who has been arrested. He refuses to reveal where Angelotti is and is led to a room and tortured. Tosca arrives and, exhausted by Mario's screams, confesses to the fugitive's hiding place. Mario is indignant that Tosca has spoken and tries to chase her away. Scarpia condemns him to death. Desperate Tosca wants to give herself to Scarpia if he will agree to free Mario. Scarpia summons Spoletta and with a nod of understanding makes Tosca believe that the execution will be faked and the guns loaded with blanks. While he is writing the safe-conduct that will get them out of the Papal States, Tosca attacks Scarpia and stabs him.At dawn on the ramparts of Castel Sant'Angelo, Mario is ready to die. He writes a last love letter to Tosca who arrives in the meantime and explains that she has killed Scarpia. She informs him of the mock execution and jokingly advises him to fake death well. But Mario is shot for real and Tosca, pursued by the policemen, who have discovered Scarpia's death, throws herself from the battlements of the castle.
Teatro Massimo, Palermo: 29, 30 April and 3, 4 May