He will manipulate Tosca into revealing the prisoner’s hiding place thus proving Cavaradossi’s treason, and with him out of the way, he will have her for himself. Scarpia has long lusted after Tosca, and when he suspects Cavaradossi of assisting Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, he seizes the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. The plot centers around three main characters – Rome’s favorite diva Floria Tosca, the painter and political activist Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca’s lover), and the corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia. Unlike many operas, with the action takes place over less than 24 hours, the events in the opera occur in almost real-time. Puccini’s political operatic thriller is set in Rome in June 1800 (during the Napoleonic wars and a time of great political unrest). Cavaradossi doesn’t move and Tosca realizes that Scarpia has betrayed her.Vissi D’Arte… Vissi D’Amore… The beautiful diva, Floria Tosca has lived for her art, and lived for love, but must make the ultimate choice: whether to give herself to another, in order to save her lover. As the execution squad arrives, Tosca implores Cavaradossi to fake his death convincingly, then hides. Tosca appears and explains what has happened. He bribes the jailer to deliver a farewell letter to Tosca, then, overcome with emotion, gives in to his despair. When he has done so, she grabs a knife from a table and stabs him.Īt dawn the next morning, Cavaradossi awaits execution at the Castel Sant’Angelo. Tosca demands that Scarpia write her a safe-conduct. Scarpia orders Spoletta to prepare for a mock execution of Cavaradossi, after which he is to be freed. Tosca, now forced to give in or lose her lover, agrees to Scarpia’s proposition. Scarpia insists, when Spoletta interrupts: faced with capture, Angelotti has killed himself. Fighting off his advances, she declares she has dedicated her life to art and love and calls on God for help.
Tosca opera free#
Scarpia calmly suggests to Tosca that he would let Cavaradossi go free if she’d give herself to him. Angelotti then reveals himself after being hidden. The Sacristan has a bit of a grumble about it and wanders off. Cavaradossi shouts out his defiance of tyranny and is dragged off to be executed. Before long, he's belting out a classic Puccini aria about how his brown-haired girlfriend, Floria Tosca (a singer), and the blonde in his painting differ - 'Recondita Armonia'. When he realizes what has happened, he angrily confronts Tosca, just as the officer Sciarrone rushes in to announce that Napoleon in fact has won the battle, a defeat for Scarpia’s side. Cavaradossi is brought in, badly hurt and hardly conscious. Frightened by Scarpia’s questions and Cavaradossi’s screams, Tosca reveals Angelotti’s hiding place. Scarpia sends for her and she appears just as Cavaradossi is being taken away to be tortured. While Scarpia interrogates the defiant painter, Tosca is heard singing at a royal gala in the same building. The spy Spoletta arrives with news that he was unable to find Angelotti. In his study at the Palazzo Farnese, Scarpia anticipates the pleasure of having Tosca in his power. While the congregation sings the Te Deum, Scarpia declares that he will bend Tosca to his will. Scarpia sends his men to follow her to Cavaradossi, with whom he thinks Angelotti is hiding. She vows vengeance and leaves as the church fills with worshippers. Seemingly finding her suspicions about her lover’s infidelity confirmed, Tosca bursts into tears. When Tosca comes back looking for Cavaradossi, Scarpia shows her a fan with the Attavanti crest that he has just found. Their excitement is silenced by the arrival of Baron Scarpia, chief of the secret police, who is searching for Angelotti. The sacristan enters with choirboys who are preparing to sing in a Te Deum celebrating the recent victory against Napoleon at the Battle of Marengo. A cannon signals that the police have discovered the escape, and he and Cavaradossi flee to the painter’s house. When Tosca has left, Angelotti again comes out of hiding. Suddenly recognizing the Marchesa Attavanti in the painting, she accuses him of being unfaithful, but he assures her of his love. She jealously asks Cavaradossi whom he has been talking to and reminds him of their rendezvous that evening. Cavaradossi recognizes him and promises help, then hurries him back into the chapel as Tosca is heard calling from outside. Angelotti, who was a member of the former Bonapartiste government, emerges from his hiding place. He is struck by the resemblance of the dark-haired beauty of his lover, the singer Floria Tosca, and that of the blonde Marchesa Attavanti. The painting has been inspired by the Marchesa Attavanti, whom Cavaradossi has seen in the church but does not know. He hides in one of the chapels just before the painter Mario Cavaradossi arrives to work on his portrait of Mary Magdalene. Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, rushes into the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle.
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