The online opera guide to TOSCA
Get to know the Synopsis of the opera TOSCA by Giacomo Puccini. In a 4-minute film you will watch the most important actions. Enriched with role descriptions and informative illustrations.
OVERVIEW & DIRECT ACCESS
Content
♪ Synopsis in 4 minutes - YouTube Video
♪ Link to the opera portrait (with interesting informations, and great Youtube Videos)
♪ Top 5 Highlights of the opera
Libretto
♪ Act I (Church Scene)
♪ Act II (Scarpia Scene)
♪ Act III (Engelsburg Scene)
The Synopsis of TOSCA in 4 minutes
Relationship diagram in TOSCA of main roles
The Opera Portrait about TOSCA
Read and watch the Opera Portrait of TOSCA. With interesting facts and great YouTube Videos.
The written Synopsis of TOSCA
The Roles
Cavaradossi, Painter
Floria Tosca, famous actress
Scarpia, Head of police
Angelotti, escaped prisoner
Synopsis
In an Italian police state in 1800: An escaped political prisoner, Angelotti, is hiding in a church. The church painter Cavaradossi helps Angelotti to escape to a safe hiding place. The famous opera singer Tosca sees her lover Cavaradossi in the church at work and is jealous because his madonna-painting looks like her rival.
Suddenly Angelotti’s escape from the castle is discovered.
Scarpia, the police chief, arrests Cavaradossi and lures Tosca to his house. Scarpia wants to conquer Tosca. He has Cavaradossi tortured in the presence of Tosca to reveal Angelottis hiding place. Scarpia offers Tosca to stop the torture for a night together. Tosca gives the appearances to surrender and the torture is ended.
Scarpia signs an order for a fake shooting the next day with subsequent escape. After Tosca is alone with Scarpia, she kills him with a knife.
The next day Tosca attends the fake execution on the castle.She tells Cavaradossi what happened and they await the execution. But the bullets are real and Cavaradossi dies to Tosca’s horror. Tosca kills herself with a jump from the Castle.
The top 5 highlights of the opera
Recondita armonia - Pavarotti
Tre sbirri (Te deum) - Raimondi/Pappano
Vissi d’arte - Callas
E lucevan le stelle - Björling / Leinsdorf
O dolci mani - Domingo / Kabaivanska
Libretto
SYNOPSIS TOSCA ACT I
| The Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle (To the right, the Attavanti chapel. To the left, a painter’s scaffold with a large painting covered with a cloth. Painter’s tools. A basket. Enter Angelotti in prisoner’s clothes, dishevelled, tired, and shaking with fear, nearly running. He looks quickly about.)ANGELOTTI Ah! At last! In my stupid fear I thought I saw a policeman’s jowl in every face. (stops to look around more attentively, calmer now that he recognises the place. Sighs with relief as he notices the column with its basin of Holy Water and the Madonna.) The column…and the basin… “At the base of the Madonna” my sister wrote me… (goes up to the Madonna and searches about at the base. He gives a muffled shout of joy as he picks up the key.) This is the key, and this is the chapel! (With the utmost care, he puts the key in the lock of the Attavanti chapel, opens the gate, goes in, closes the gate and disappears within. Enter the sacristan from the rear, carrying a bunch of painter’s brushes, and muttering loudly as though he were addressing someone.) |
| SACRISTAN Forever washing! And every brush is filthier than an urchin’s collar. Mister Painter…There! (looks toward the scaffold with its painting and is surprised on seeing nobody there) No one…I would have sworn the Cavalier Cavaradossi had come back. (puts down the brushes, mounts the scaffold and examines the basket, remarking:) No, I’m mistaken. The basket has not been touched. (The Angelus sounds. The sacristan kneels and prays in hushed voice.) Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae, et concepit de Spiritu Sancto. Ecce ancilla Domini; fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum et Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis… (Enter Cavaradossi from the side door. He sees the sacristan kneeling.)CAVARADOSSI What are you doing? |
| SACRISTAN (rising) Reciting the Angelus. (Cavaradossi mounts the scaffold and uncovers the painting: it is of a Mary Magdalene with great blue eyes and a cascade of golden hair. The painter stands in silence before it and studies it closely. The sacristan turns to speak to Cavaradossi and cries out in amazement as he sees the uncovered picture.) Oh, holy vessels! Her picture!CAVARADOSSI Whose?SACRISTAN That strange girl who has been coming here these past few days to pray. Such devotion…such piety. (He waves towards the Madonna from whose base Angelotti has taken the key.)CAVARADOSSI It is so. And she was so absorbed in fervent prayer that I could paint her lovely face unnoticed. SACRISTAN (to himself) |
| CAVARADOSSI Give me my paints. (The sacristan does so. Cavaradossi paints rapidly, with frequent pauses to observe his work. The sacristan comes and goes; he carries a small basin in which he continues his job of washing the brushes. Suddenly Cavaradossi leaves his painting: from his pocket he takes a medallion with a portrait in miniature, and his eyes travel from the miniature to his own work.) Oh hidden harmony of contrasting beauties! Floria is dark, my love and passion…SACRISTAN (to himself) Jest with knaves and neglect the saints…CAVARADOSSI And you, mysterious beauty… crowned with blond locks. Your eyes are blue and Tosca’s black!SACRISTAN (to himself) Jest with knaves and neglect the saints… CAVARADOSSI |
| my sole thought is of you. SACRISTAN (to himself) CAVARADOSSI SACRISTAN CAVARADOSSI SACRISTAN |
| Be sure to close up when you leave. CAVARADOSSI SACRISTAN CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI |
| Angelotti! The Consul of the lamented Roman Republic! (He runs to close door at right.)ANGELOTTI I have just escaped from Castel Sant’Angelo.CAVARADOSSI I am at your service.TOSCA (from without) Mario! (At Tosca’s call, Cavaradossi motions Angelotti to be quiet.) CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI |
| There’s food and wine in this basket. ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI (opening the gate) TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA |
| Where is she?… CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI (trying to kiss her) TOSCA (with gentle reproach) CAVARADOSSI (his thoughts still elsewhere) |
| TOSCA It is the time of the full moon, when the heart is drunk with the nightly fragrance of the flowers. Are you not happy?CAVARADOSSI (still somewhat distraught and thoughtful) So very happy!TOSCA (struck by his tone) Say it again!CAVARADOSSI So very happy! TOSCA |
| and false counsels to soften and seduce the heart. Oh wide fields, blossom! And sea winds throb in the moon’s radiance, ah, rain down desire, you vaulted stars! Tosca burns with a mad love!CAVARADOSSI Ah! Sorceress, I am bound in your toils…TOSCA Tosca’s blood burns with a mad love!CAVARADOSSI Sorceress, I will come! TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA |
| CAVARADOSSI Mary Magdalene. Do you like her?TOSCA She is too beautiful!CAVARADOSSI (laughing) Ah, rare praise!TOSCA (suspicious) You laugh? I have seen those sky-blue eyes before. CAVARADOSSI (unconcerned) TOSCA (trying to remember) CAVARADOSSI TOSCA (blindly jealous) CAVARADOSSI TOSCA |
| CAVARADOSSI Come here!TOSCA The shameless flirt! And to me!CAVARADOSSI (serious) By pure chance I saw her yesterday… she came here to pray… and I, unnoticed, painted her.TOSCA Swear! CAVARADOSSI TOSCA (her eyes still on the painting) CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA (insisting) CAVARADOSSI |
| with your black and glowing eyes? It is in them that my whole being fastens, eyes soft with love and rich with anger… Where in the whole world are eyes to compare with your black eyes?TOSCA (won over, resting her head on his shoulder) Oh, how well you know the art of capturing women’s hearts! (still persisting in her idea) But let her eyes be black ones!CAVARADOSSI My jealous Tosca!TOSCA Yes, I feel it, I torment you unceasingly. CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI |
| TOSCA I know you would forgive me if you knew my grief. Say again those consoling words… Say them again!CAVARADOSSI My life, my troubled one, beloved. I shall always say: “I love you, Floria”. Set your uneasy heart at rest, I shall always say: “I love you”.TOSCA (disengaging, lest she be won completely) Good heavens! What a sin! You have undone my hair.CAVARADOSSI Now you must leave me! TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI |
| TOSCA (falling into his arms, with up-turned cheek) No, forgive me!CAVARADOSSI (smiling) Before the Madonna?TOSCA She is so good! But let her eyes be black ones! (A kiss, and Tosca hurries away. Cavaradossi listens to her withdrawing footsteps, then carefully opens the door half-way and peers out. Seeing that all is clear, he runs to the chapel, and Angelotti at once appears from behind the gate.)CAVARADOSSI (opening the gate for Angelotti, who has naturally heard the foregoing dialogue) She is good, my Tosca, but, as she trusts her confessor, she hides nothing. So I must say nothing. It’s wiser so. ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI |
| or stay in hiding in Rome. My sister… CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI |
| I fear the sunlight! CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI (about to go) CAVARADOSSI (running towards him) |
| The cannon of the castle! CAVARADOSSI ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI (with sudden resolve) ANGELOTTI CAVARADOSSI SACRISTAN |
| PUPILS (in great confusion) Where?SACRISTAN (pushing some of the priests along) In the sacristy.SOME PUPILS But what’s happened?SACRISTAN You haven’t heard? Bonaparte…the scoundrel… Bonaparte… OTHERS SACRISTAN CHORUS SACRISTAN CHORUS SACRISTAN |
| and a new cantata for the great occasion with Flora Tosca! And in the churches, hymns to the Lord! Now get along and dress, and no more shouting. On with you to the sacristy!CHORUS (laughing and shouting gaily) Double pay…Te Deum…Gloria! Long live the King! Let’s celebrate the victory! etc. (Their shouting is at its height when an ironic voice cuts short the uproar of songs and laughter. It is Scarpia. Behind him, Spoletta and several policemen)SCARPIA Such a hubbub in church! A fine respect!SACRISTAN (stammering with fright) Excellency, the joyous news… SCARPIA SACRISTAN (cowering) SCARPIA (to Spoletta) |
| track down every clue. SPOLETTA SCARPIA (to other policemen) SACRISTAN SCARPIA SACRISTAN SCARPIA |
| has flown the roost, but left behind a precious clue, a fan. Who was the accomplice in his flight? (He puzzles over the situation, then examines the fan; suddenly notices the coat of arms.) The Marchesa Attavanti! It’s her crest… (looks around scrutinising every corner of the church. His gaze rests on the scaffold, the painter’s tools, the painting…and he recognises the familiar features of the Attavanti in the face of the saint.) Her portrait! (to the sacristan) Who painted that picture?SACRISTAN The Cavalier Cavaradossi.SCARPIA He! (One of the policemen returns from the chapel bringing the basket which Cavaradossi gave to Angelotti.)SACRISTAN Heavens! The basket! SCARPIA (pursuing his own thoughts) SACRISTAN |
| SCARPIA What do you say? (on seeing the policeman with the basket) What’s that?SACRISTAN (taking the basket) They found this basket in the chapel.SCARPIA Have you seen it before?SACRISTAN Yes, indeed! (hesitant and fearful) It’s the painter’s basket…but…even so… SCARPIA SACRISTAN SCARPIA SACRISTAN |
| So I put the basket safely to one side. Libera me domine! (He shows where he put the basket, and leaves it there.)SCARPIA (to himself) It’s all clear now… The sacristan’s food became Angelotti’s booty! (He sees Tosca, who enters in haste.) Tosca? She must not see me. (He hides behind the column with the basin of Holy Water.) Iago had a handkerchief, and I a fan to drive a jealous lover to distraction!TOSCA (runs towards the scaffold sure of finding Cavaradossi, and is taken aback at not seeing him there) Mario! Mario!SACRISTAN (at the foot of the scaffold) The painter Cavaradossi? Who knows where the heretic is; and with whom? He’s slipped away, evaporated by his own witchcraft. (He slips away.) TOSCA |
| He could not betray me! SCARPIA TOSCA SCARPIA TOSCA (distraught and preoccupied) |
| SCARPIA Pious women are so rare… Your life’s the stage… (significantly) yet you come to church to pray.TOSCA (surprised) What do you mean?SCARPIA And you are not as other strumpets are (points to the portrait) who have the dress and face of Magdalene and come to scheme in love.TOSCA (at once aroused) What? In love? Your proof? SCARPIA (showing her the fan) TOSCA (grabbing it) SCARPIA TOSCA (studying the fan) |
| Oh, prophetic doubt! SCARPIA (to himself) TOSCA SCARPIA (to himself) TOSCA SCARPIA (to himself) TOSCA SCARPIA (insinuating) |
| to wipe away those tears. TOSCA (unheeding) SCARPIA (to himself) TOSCA (her anger rising) SCARPIA TOSCA |
| SCARPIA (to Spoletta, who emerges from behind the column) Three men and a carriage…Quick, follow wherever she goes! And take care!SPOLETTA Yes, Sir. And where do we meet?SCARPIA Farnese Palace! (Spoletta hurries out with three policemen.) Go, Tosca! Now Scarpia digs a nest within your heart! Go, Tosca! Scarpia now sets loose the soaring falcon of your jealousy! How great a promise in your quick suspicions! Now Scarpia digs a nest within your heart! Go, Tosca! (Scarpia kneels and prays as the cardinal passes.)CHORUS Adjutorum nostrum in nomine Domini qui fecit coelum et terram. Sit nomen Domini benedictum et hoc nunc et usque in saeculum. |
| SCARPIA My will takes aim now at a double target, nor is the rebel’s head the bigger prize… Ah, to see the flame of those imperious eyes grow faint and languid with passion… For him, the rope, and for her, my arms…CHORUS Te Deum laudamus: Te Dominum confitemur! (The sacred chant from the back of the church startles Scarpia, as though awakening him from a dream. He collects himself, makes the Sign of the Cross.)SCARPIA Tosca, you make me forget God! (He kneels and prays devoutly.)CHORUS, SCARPIA Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur! |
SYNOPSIS TOSCA ACT II
| Scarpia’s apartment on an upper floor of the Farnese Palace (A table set for supper. A wide window opening on the palace courtyard. It is night. Scarpia is at the table taking his supper; every now and again he pauses to reflect. He looks at his watch; he is angry and preoccupied.)SCARPIA Tosca is a good falcon! Surely by this time my hounds have fallen on their double prey! And tomorrow’s dawn will see Angelotti on the scaffold and the fine Mario hanging from a noose. (He rings a bell. Enter Sciarrone.) Is Tosca in the palace?SCIARRONE A chamberlain has just gone to look for her.SCARPIA (points towards the window) Open the window. It is late. (The sound of an orchestra is heard from the lower floor, where Maria Carolina, the Queen of Naples, is giving a party in honour of Melas.) The Diva’s still missing from the concert. And they strum gavottes. (to Sciarrone) Wait for Tosca at the entrance: |
| tell her I shall expect her after the concert. Or better… (rises and goes to write a note) Give her this note. (Exit Sciarrone. Scarpia resumes his seat at the table.) She will come for love of her Mario! And for love of her Mario she will yield to my pleasure. Such is the profound misery of profound love… For myself the violent conquest has stronger relish than the soft surrender. I take no delight in sighs or vows exchanged at misty lunar dawn. I know not how to draw harmony from guitars, or horoscopes from flowers, nor am I apt at dalliance, or cooing like the turtle dove. I crave, I pursue the craved thing, sate myself and cast it by, and seek new bait. God made diverse beauties as he made diverse wines, and of these God-like works I mean to taste my full. (He drinks. Enter Sciarrone.)SCIARRONE Spoletta’s here.SCARPIA Show him in. In good time, too. (Enter Spoletta. Scarpia questions him without looking up from his supper.) Well, my fine man, how did the hunt go? |
| SPOLETTA (aside) Saint Ignatius help me! (to Scarpia) We kept on the lady’s trail, following her to a lonely villa lost in the woods. She entered there and soon came out alone. At once with my dogs I vaulted over the garden wall and burst into the house.SCARPIA Well done, Spoletta!SPOLETTA I sniff… I scratch… I rummageSCARPIA (sensing Spoletta’s hesitation, rises scowling and pale with anger) And Angelotti? SPOLETTA SCARPIA (in a rage) SPOLETTA |
| The painter was there… SCARPIA SPOLETTA SCARPIA (with a sigh of satisfaction) SPOLETTA (waving towards the antechamber) SCARPIA (to Spoletta) CAVARADOSSI (with disdain) SCARPIA (with studied courtesy) |
| CAVARADOSSI I want to know…SCARPIA (indicating a chair at the other side of the table) Be seated.CAVARADOSSI (declining) I’ll stand.SCARPIA As you wish. Are you aware that a prisoner… (Tosca’s voice is heard in the cantata.) CAVARADOSSI SCARPIA CAVARADOSSI SCARPIA CAVARADOSSI (unflinching) |
| SCARPIA (still quite calm) …and took him to a suburban place of yours.CAVARADOSSI I deny that. What proof have you?SCARPIA (sweetly) A faithful servant…CAVARADOSSI The facts! Who’s my accuser? In vain your spies ransacked my villa. SCARPIA CAVARADOSSI SPOLETTA (offended) CAVARADOSSI SCARPIA (harshly) |
| Where is Angelotti? CAVARADOSSI SCARPIA CAVARADOSSI SCARPIA CAVARADOSSI SCARPIA CAVARADOSSI (vehemently) SCARPIA (craftily, becoming calm) CAVARADOSSI |
| SCARPIA Be careful. For the last time, where is he?CAVARADOSSI I don’t know.SPOLETTA (to himself) Oh, for a good whipping! (Enter Tosca breathless.)SCARPIA (to himself) Here she is! TOSCA CAVARADOSSI (speaking low) SCARPIA (solemnly) SCARPIA |
| Come now, don’t look so frightened. TOSCA (with studied calm) SCARPIA TOSCA (with feigned indifference) SCARPIA TOSCA SCARPIA TOSCA SCARPIA TOSCA (annoyed) |
| SCARPIA You protest too much! Perhaps you fear you may betray yourself. (to Sciarrone) Sciarrone, what does the Cavalier have to say?SCIARRONE (appearing) He denies everything.SCARPIA (raising his voice, towards the open door) Keep pressing him! (Sciarrone goes out and shuts the door.)TOSCA (laughing) You know it’s quite useless. SCARPIA (serious, pacing back and forth) TOSCA SCARPIA TOSCA (surprised) |
| SCARPIA The law must be enforced.TOSCA Oh, God! What’s happening? What is happening?SCARPIA Your lover’s bound hand and foot. A ring of hooked iron at his temples, so that they spurt blood at each denial.TOSCA (bounds to her feet) It isn’t true! It isn’t true! Oh, leering devil! (a prolonged groan from Cavaradossi) He groans! Oh, pity! Pity! SCARPIA TOSCA SCARPIA (shouting) SCIARRONE (appearing) SCARPIA |
| TOSCA Let me see him.SCARPIA No!TOSCA (managing to get near the door) Mario!CAVARADOSSI’S VOICE Tosca! TOSCA CAVARADOSSI’S VOICE SCARPIA TOSCA (strengthened by Mario’s words) SCARPIA TOSCA |
| SCARPIA Will you speak?TOSCA No, no! Ah, monster! Murderer… you’re killing him!SCARPIA It’s your silence that’s killing him.TOSCA Monster, do you laugh at this ghastly torment? SCARPIA (with fierce irony) CAVARADOSSI’S VOICE SCARPIA CAVARADOSSI’S VOICE SCARPIA (to Tosca) |
| TOSCA What can I say?SCARPIA Come, speak…TOSCA Oh, I know nothing! Must I lie to you?SCARPIA Where’s Angelotti? TOSCA SCARPIA TOSCA CAVARADOSSI’S VOICE TOSCA |
| Mario, will you let me speak? CAVARADOSSI’S VOICE TOSCA (pleading) CAVARADOSSI’S VOICE SCARPIA TOSCA |
| SPOLETTA (continues to pray) Nil inultum remanebit! (Scarpia, profiting from Tosca’s breakdown goes towards the torture chamber and orders the resumption of the torment. There is a piercing cry, Tosca leaps up, and in a choking voice says rapidly to Scarpia:)TOSCA In the well, in the garden…SCARPIA Angelotti is there?TOSCA Yes. SCARPIA SCIARRONE (re-opening the door) TOSCA (to Scarpia) SCARPIA |
| horror. Then, ashamed of her show of weakness, she kneels beside Cavaradossi, kissing him and weeping. Sciarrone, Roberti, the judge and the scribe go out at the rear. At a sign from Scarpia, Spoletta and the policemen stay behind.)CAVARADOSSI (as he comes to) Floria!TOSCA (covering him with kisses) Beloved…CAVARADOSSI It is you? TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA |
| SCARPIA (loudly to Spoletta) In the well… in the garden. Get him, Spoletta. (Exit Spoletta. Cavaradossi has heard; he rises threateningly towards Tosca, but his strength fails him and he falls back on the sofa, bitterly reproachful as he exclaims:)CAVARADOSSI Ah, you have betrayed me!TOSCA (beseeching) Mario!CAVARADOSSI (rejecting her embrace and thrusting her from him) Accursed woman! TOSCA (beseeching) SCIARRONE (bursting in, very perturbed) SCARPIA (taken aback) SCIARRONE SCARPIA |
| SCIARRONE At Marengo.SCARPIA (impatient) Blockhead!SCIARRONE Bonaparte has won!SCARPIA And Melas? SCIARRONE CAVARADOSSI TOSCA (trying desperately to calm him) CAVARADOSSI |
| hangman, Scarpia! (Tosca clutches Cavaradossi and with a rush of broken words tries to calm him, while Scarpia answers with a sardonic smile.)SCARPIA Go, shout your boasts! Pour out the last dregs of your vile soul! Go, for you die, the hangman’s noose awaits you. (shouts to the policemen) Take him away! (Sciarrone and the policemen seize Cavaradossi and drag him towards the door. Tosca makes a supreme effort to hold on to him, but they thrust her brutally aside.)TOSCA Mario, with you…SCARPIA Not you! (The door closes and Scarpia and Tosca remain alone.) TOSCA (moaning) SCARPIA |
| My poor supper was interrupted. (sees Tosca, dejected and motionless, still at the door) So downhearted? Come, my fair lady. Sit down here. Shall we try to find together a way to save him? (Tosca bestirs herself and looks at him. Scarpia, still smiling, sits down and motions to her to do the same.) Well then, sit down, and we shall talk. And first, a sip of wine. It comes from Spain. (He refills the glass and offers it to Tosca.) A sip to hearten you.TOSCA (still staring at Scarpia, she advances towards the table. She sits resolutely facing him, then asks in a tone of the deepest contempt:) How much?SCARPIA (imperturbable, as she pours his drink) How much? (He laughs.)TOSCA What is your price? SCARPIA |
| I have waited for this hour! Already in the past I burned with passion for the Diva. But tonight I have beheld you in a new role I had not seen before. Those tears of yours were lava to my senses and that fierce hatred which your eyes shot at me only fanned the fire in my blood. Supple as a leopard you enwrapped your lover. In that instant I vowed you would be mine! Mine! Yes. I will have you… (He rises and stretches out his arms towards Tosca. She has listened motionless to his wanton tirade. Now she leaps up and takes refuge behind the sofa.)TOSCA (running towards the window) “Ah! I’ll jump out first!SCARPIA (coldly) I hold your Mario in pawn!TOSCA Oh, wretch… Oh, ghastly bargain… (It suddenly occurs to her to appeal to the Queen, and she runs to the door.) SCARPIA (ironically) |
| grant pardon to a corpse! (Tosca draws back in fright, her eyes fixed on Scarpia. She drops on the sofa. She then looks away from him with a gesture of supreme contempt.) How you detest me!TOSCA Ah! God!SCARPIA (approaching) Even so, even so I want you!TOSCA (with loathing) Don’t touch me, devil! I hate you, hate you! Fiend, base villain! (She flees from him in horror.) SCARPIA TOSCA SCARPIA TOSCA SCARPIA (pursuing her) |
| TOSCA Help! Help! (A distant roll of drums draws slowly near, then fades again into the distance.)SCARPIA Do you hear? It is the drum that leads the way for the last march of the condemned. Time passes! (Tosca listens in terrible dread, and then comes back from the window to lean exhausted on the sofa.) Are you aware of what dark work is done down there? They raise a gallows. By your wish, your Mario has but one more hour to live. (He coldly leans on a corner of the sofa and stares at Tosca.)TOSCA I lived for ar t, I lived for love: never did I harm a living creature! Whatever misfortunes I encountered I sought with secret hand to succour. Ever in pure faith, my prayers rose in the holy chapels. Ever in pure faith, I brought flowers to the altars. In this hour of pain, why, why, oh Lord, why dost Thou repay me thus? Jewels I brought for the Madonna’s mantle, |
| and songs for the stars in heaven that they shone forth with greater radiance. In this hour of distress, why, why, oh Lord, why dost Thou repay me thus? (kneeling before Scarpia)TOSCA Look at me, oh, behold! With clasped hands I beseech you! And, vanquished, I implore the help of your word…SCARPIA Tosca, you are too beautiful and too loving. I yield to you. And at a paltry price; you ask me for a life. I ask of you an instant.TOSCA (rising, with great contempt) Go, go, you fill me with loathing! (a knock at the door) SCARPIA SPOLETTA (entering breathless) SCARPIA |
| SPOLETTA The Cavalier Cavaradossi? Everything is ready, Excellency.TOSCA (to herself) God help me!SCARPIA (to Spoletta) Wait. (to Tosca) Well? (Tosca nods assent She weeps with shame and hides her face. To Spoletta) Listen…TOSCA (suddenly interrupting) But I demand that he be freed this instant… SCARPIA (to Tosca) TOSCA SCARPIA |
| Spoletta, shut the door. (Spoletta shuts the door and comes back to Scarpia.) I have changed my mind. The prisoner shall be shot… (Tosca starts with terror.) Wait a moment… (He fixes on Spoletta a hard, significant glance and Spoletta nods in reply that he has guessed his meaning.) As we did with Count Palmieri.SPOLETTA An execution…SCARPIA (significantly stressing his words) …A sham one! As we did with Palmieri! You understand?SPOLETTA I understand. SCARPIA TOSCA SCARPIA |
| SPOLETTA Yes. Like Palmieri. (Exit Spoletta. Scarpia, near the door, listens to his retreating footsteps, and then his whole behaviour changing, advances towards Tosca flushed with passion.)SCARPIA I have kept my promise.TOSCA (stopping him) Not yet. I want a safe conduct, so that he and I can flee the State together.SCARPIA (gallantly) You want to leave? TOSCA SCARPIA TOSCA SCARPIA TOSCA |
| Yes. (As he writes, Tosca goes up to the table to take, with shaking hand, the glass of wine that Scarpia has poured, but as she lifts it to her lips, her eye falls on a sharply pointed knife that is lying on the table. She sees that Scarpia at this moment is absorbed in writing, and so, with infinite caution, still answering his questions, and never taking her eye from him, she reaches out for the knife. Finally, she is able to grasp the knife. Still watching Scarpia, she hides it behind her as she leans against the table. He has now finished making out the pass. He puts his seal upon it and folds the paper, and then, opening his arms, advances towards Tosca to embrace her.)SCARPIA Tosca, now you are mine at last! (But his shout of lust ends in a cry of anguish: Tosca has struck him full in the breast.) Accursed one!TOSCA This is the kiss of Tosca! (Scarpia stretches out an arm towards her, swaying and lurching as he advances, seeking her aid. She eludes him, but is suddenly caught between him and the table, and seeing that he is about to touch her, she thrusts him back in horror. Scarpia crashes to the floor, shrieking in a voice nearly stifled with blood.)SCARPIA Help! I am dying! Help! I die! |
| TOSCA (watches him as he struggles helplessly on the floor and clutches at the sofa, trying to pull himself up) Is your blood choking you? And killed by a woman! Did you torment me enough? Can you still hear me? Speak! Look at me! I am Tosca! Oh, Scarpia!SCARPIA (after a last effort he falls back) Help! Help!TOSCA (bending over him) Is your blood choking you? Die accursed! Die! Die! Die! (seeing him motionless) He is dead! And now I pardon him! All Rome trembled before him! (Her eyes still fixed on the body, Tosca goes to the table, puts down the knife, takes a bottle of water, wets a napkin and washes her fingers. She then goes to the mirror to arrange her hair. Then she hunts for the safe-conduct pass on the desk, and not finding it there she turns and sees the paper in the clenched hand of the dead man. She takes it with a shudder and hides it in her bosom. She puts out the candle on the table and is about to leave when a scruple detains her. She returns to the desk and takes the candle there, using it to relight the other, and then places one to the right and the other to the left of Scarpia’s head. She rises and looks about her and notices a crucifix on |
| the wall. She removes it with reverent care, and returning to the dead man, kneels at his side and places it on his breast. She rises, approaches the door cautiously, goes out and closes it.) |
SYNOPSIS TOSCA ACT III
| The platform of Castel Sant’Angelo (At left, a casemate: there is a lamp, large registry book with writing materials, a bench and a chair. A crucifix hangs on one of the casemate walls with a lamp in front. To the right, the door to a small stairway leading up to the platform. In the distance, the Vatican and the Basilica of St Peter’s. It is still night, but gradually darkness is dispelled by the grey, uncertain light of the hour before dawn. Church bells toll for matins. The voice of a shepherd passing with his flock can be heard.)(Orchestra) VOICE OF SHEPHERD I give you sighs, there are as many as there are leaves driven by the wind. You may scorn me, and my heart is sick. Oh lamp of gold, I die for you. (Orchestra) (A jailer with a lantern mounts the stairs from below. He goes to the casemate and lights the light in front of the crucifix, and then the one or the |
| table. He sits down and waits, half drowsing. Soon a picket of guards, led by a sergeant, emerges from the stairway with Cavaradossi. The picket halts as the sergeant leads Cavaradossi to the casemate and hands a note to the jailer. The latter examines it, opens the registry book and writes, as he questions the prisoner.) (Orchestra)JAILER Mario Cavaradossi? (Cavaradossi bows his head in acknowledgement. The jailer hands the pen to the sergeant.) For you. (to Cavaradossi) You have one hour. A priest awaits your call.CAVARADOSSI No… but I have a last favour to ask of you.JAILER If I can… CAVARADOSSI |
| JAILER (hesitates a little, then accepts. He motions Cavaradossi to the chair at the table, and sits down on the bench.) Write.CAVARADOSSI (begins to write, but after a few lines a flood of memories invades him) And the stars shone and the earth was perfumed. The gate to the garden creaked and a footstep rustled the sand to the path… Fragrant, she entered and fell into my arms… Oh, soft kisses, oh, sweet abandon, as I trembling unloosed her veils and disclosed her beauty. Oh, vanished forever is that dream of love, fled is that hour… and desperately I die. And never before have I lovedlife so much! (He bursts into sobs, Spoletta appears at the stairhead, the sergeant at his side and Tosca following. Spoletta indicates where Cavaradossi is and then calls the jailer. He warns the guard at the rear to keep careful watch on the prisoner, and then leaves with the sergeant and the jailer. Tosca sees Cavaradossi weeping, his head in his arms. She lifts his head, and he jumps to his feet in astonishment. Tosca shows him a note but is far too overcome with emotion to speak.) |
| (Orchestra) CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA |
| The damnable monster told me that already the gallows stretched their arms skyward! The drums rolled and he laughed, the evil monster, laughed, ready to spring and carry off his prey! Is it yes? He asked, and yes, I promised myself to his lust. But there at hand a sharp blade glittered: he wrote out the liberating pass, and came to claim the horrible embrace… That pointed blade I planted in his heart.CAVARADOSSI You, with your own hand you killed him? You tender, you gentle - and for me!TOSCA My hands were reeking with his blood!CAVARADOSSI (lovingly taking her hands in his) Oh, sweet hands pure and gentle. Oh, hands meant for the fair works of piety, caressing children, gathering roses, for prayers when others meet misfortune… Then it was in you, made strong by love, that justice placed her sacred weapons? You dealt out death, victorious hands, oh, sweet hands pure and gentle. |
| TOSCA (disengaging her hands from his) Listen, the hour is near. I have already collected my gold and jewels. A carriage is waiting… But first…Oh, laugh at this, my love…First you will be shot, in play and pretence, with unloaded arms… mock punishment. Fall down at the shot, the soldiers leave, and we are safe! And then to Civitavecchia, and there a ship, and we’re away by sea!CAVARADOSSI Free!TOSCA Free!CAVARADOSSI Away by sea! TOSCA CAVARADOSSI |
| are held in you as heat within flame. I now shall see through your transfiguring eyes, the heavens blaze and the heavens darken; and the beauty of all things remarkable from you alone will have their voice and colour.TOSCA The love that found the way to save your life shall be our guide on earth, our pilot on the waters, and make the wide world lovely to our eyes; until together we shall fade away beyond the sphere of earth, as light clouds fade, at sundown, high above the sea. (They are stirred and silent. Then Tosca, recalled to reality, looks about uneasily.) They still! don’t come… (turning to Cavaradossi with affectionate concern) And be careful! When you hear the shot you must fall down at once…CAVARADOSSI (reassuring her) Have no fear, I’ll fall on the instant, and quite naturally.TOSCA (insisting) But be careful not to hurt yourself. With my experience in the theatre I’d know how to manage it. CAVARADOSSI (interrupting and drawing her to him) |
| TOSCA (carried away with rapture) Together in exile we shall bear our love through the world. Harmonies of colour…TOSCA and CAVARADOSSI And harmonies of song! (ecstatically) Triumphant, the soul trembles with new hope in heavenly increasing ardour. And in harmonious flight the spirit soars to the ecstasy of love.TOSCA With a thousand kisses I shall seal your eyes, and call you by a thousand names of love. (Meanwhile a squad of soldiers has entered from the stairway. The officer in command ranges them to the rear. Enter Spoletta, the sergeant and the jailer, Spoletta giving the necessary orders. The sky lightens; dawn appears; a bell strikes four. The jailer goes to Cavaradossi, removes his cap and nods towards the officer.)JAILER It is time. |
| CAVARADOSSI I am ready. (The jailer takes the registry of the condemned and leaves by the stairway.)TOSCA (to Cavaradossi, speaking low and laughing secretly) Remember: at the first shot, down…CAVARADOSSI (in a low voice. also laughing) Down.TOSCA And don’t get up before I call you… CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA CAVARADOSSI TOSCA |
| So. (Their farewells over, Cavaradossi follows the officer. Tosca takes her place on the left side of the casemate, in position, however, to observe what is happening on the platform. She sees the officer and the sergeant lead Cavaradossi towards the wall directly facing her. The sergeant wishes to blindfold Cavaradossi who declines with a smile. The grim preparations begin to strain Tosca s patience.)TOSCA How long is this waiting! Why are they still delaying? The sun already rises. Why are they still delaying? It is only a comedy, I know, but this anguish seems to last for ever! (The officer and the sergeant marshal the squad of soldiers before the wall and impart their instructions.) There! They are taking aim! How handsome my Mario is! (The officer lowers his sabre, the platoon fires and Cavaradossi falls.) There! Die! Ah, what an actor! (The sergeant goes up to examine the fallen man. Spoletta also approaches to prevent the sergeant from delivering the coup de grace, and he covers Cavaradossi with a cloak. The officer realigns the soldiers. The sergeant withdraws the sentinel from his post at the rear and Spoletta leads the group off by the stairway. Tosca follows this scene with the utmost agitation, fearing that Cavaradossi may lose patience and move or speak before the proper moment. In a hushed voice she warns him:) |
| Oh Mario, do not move… They’re going now. Be still. They are going down… (Seeing the platform deserted, she goes to listen at the stairhead. She stands there for a moment in fear and trepidation as she thinks she hears the soldiers returning. Again in a low voice she warns Cavaradossi:) Not yet, you mustn’t move… (She listens: they have all gone. She runs towards Cavaradossi.) Quickly! Up, Mario! Mario! Up! Quickly. Come. Up! Up! (She kneels and quickly removes the cloak and leaps to her feet, pale and terrified.) Mario! Mario! Dead! Dead! (sobbing, she throws herself on Cavaradossi’s body) Oh Mario, dead? You? Like this? Dead like this? etc. (From the courtyard below the parapet and from the narrow stairway come the confused voices of Spoletta, Sciarrone and the soldiers. They draw nearer.)CONFUSED VOICES Scarpia stabbed?SCIARRONE Yes, stabbed, I tell you!CONFUSED VOICES The woman is Tosca! Don’t let her escape. Keep an eye on the way out via the stairs! (Spoletta rushes in from the stairway, and behind him Sciarrone shouting and waving at Tosca.) |
| SCIARRONE There she is!SPOLETTA (charging towards Tosca) Ah, Tosca, you will pay for his life most dearly! (Tosca springs to her feet, pushing Spoletta violently, answering:)TOSCA With my own! (Spoletta falls back from the sudden thrust. Tosca escapes and runs to the parapet, she leaps onto it and hurls herself over the ledge, crying:) Oh, Scarpia! Before God! (Sciarrone and soldiers rush in confusion to the parapet and look down. Spoletta stands stunned and pale.)End of the opera |
Reproduced with express permission from http://www.murashev.com/opera/
Peter Lutz, opera-inside, the online opera guide to TOSCA, Synopsis
This post is also available in: German
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