Tosca

sarah-tosca

Lejeune - Bataille de Marengo

Tosca Te Deum Victrola Book of Opera

La piattaforma di Castel Sant'Angelo, bozzetto di Luigi Bazzani per Tosca (s.d.) - Archivio Storico Ricordi ICON010472

Tosca Act 2 Victrola Book of Opera

View of the Tiber Looking Towards the Castel Sant'Angelo, with Saint Peter's in the Distance (adj)

Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples's control of Rome threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. It contains some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias, and has inspired performances by many of the leading operatic artists.

Plot

The story of Tosca revolves around three main characters: Floria Tosca, a celebrated opera singer; Mario Cavaradossi, a painter and Tosca's lover; and Baron Scarpia, the chief of police, who lusts after Tosca and plots to dispose of Cavaradossi to have her for himself. The opera is known for its dramatic intensity, the depth of its characters, and its tragic ending.

Act I

In the Church of Sant'Andrea della Valle, Cavaradossi works on a painting while the escaped political prisoner, Angelotti, hides in the church. Tosca visits Cavaradossi, and Scarpia manipulates her jealousy to track down Angelotti, leading to a series of tragic events.

Act II

In the Palazzo Farnese, Scarpia interrogates Cavaradossi about Angelotti's whereabouts and tortures him in Tosca's presence. Tosca, desperate to save her lover, agrees to Scarpia's demand for sexual favors in exchange for Cavaradossi's freedom. After Scarpia signs the safe-conduct for the lovers, Tosca kills him.

Act III

At the Castel Sant'Angelo, Cavaradossi awaits execution. Tosca tells him of her plan for a fake execution, after which they can escape together. However, Scarpia had deceived Tosca, and Cavaradossi is executed for real. When Tosca realizes the truth, she commits suicide by jumping from the castle's ramparts.

Music

Puccini's score for Tosca is rich with motifs associated with characters, locations, and psychological themes. The opera includes some of his most famous arias, such as "Recondita armonia", "Vissi d'arte", and "E lucevan le stelle", which express the characters' complex emotions and the dramatic situations they face.

Reception and Legacy

Since its premiere, Tosca has been a staple of the operatic repertoire. It initially received mixed reviews, with some critics finding fault with its melodramatic aspects. However, its popularity with audiences was immediate and enduring. Today, it is considered one of Puccini's masterpieces and a classic of the operatic canon.

Performances and Adaptations

Tosca has been performed by many of the world's leading opera houses and has been recorded numerous times. It has also been adapted into several films and television productions. The opera's dramatic narrative and emotional depth continue to resonate with contemporary audiences.