Tosca

Plot Summary

Act I

Rome, June 17, 1800, midday.
At the empty Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, Cesare Angelotti, a pro-Napoleon political prisoner, arrives after escaping from his cell in the Castel Sant’Angelo. Convicted of treason, Angelotti finds refuge in the private chapel of the Attavanti family. Using a key left for him by his sister, the Marchesa Attavanti, he enters and prepares to disguise himself in women’s clothing she has left there for him. The painter Mario Cavaradossi returns to the church to continue his painting of Mary Magdalene. The sacristan, who resents the artist, is surprised to notice the resemblance between the painted figure and an unknown woman who has recently been visiting the church. It turns out that Angelotti’s sister, the Marchesa, unknowingly served as Cavaradossi’s model.

The sacristan leaves, and Angelotti emerges from the chapel. He and Cavaradossi, who are old friends, recognize each other, but there’s no time to speak, as the voice of opera singer Floria Tosca, Cavaradossi’s lover, is suddenly heard. Angelotti hides, and the jealous Tosca accuses Mario of being with another woman. Cavaradossi calms her suspicions, and they arrange to meet at his villa that evening. However, Tosca’s jealousy resurfaces when she notices the resemblance between the painted figure of Mary Magdalene and the Marchesa Attavanti whom she recognizes. Cavaradossi reassures her and sees her out. Angelotti re-emerges, and Cavaradossi offers him a hiding place in the garden well at his villa. A cannon shot from Castel Sant’Angelo signals that Angelotti’s escape has been discovered. Cavaradossi decides to accompany his friend to the villa himself.

The sacristan returns and announces to the church choir that Napoleon has been defeated at the Battle of Marengo and that a celebratory Te Deum will be held at the church, along with a cantata performance by Tosca at the Farnese Palace. Police Chief Scarpia, who is tracking Angelotti, arrives at the church. He interrogates the sacristan and suspects a connection between Angelotti, the painter, and the Marchesa Attavanti, whose fan and Angelotti’s food basket he finds. Tosca returns to inform Cavaradossi that she cannot come to his home that evening, as she must sing at the palace concert. But Cavaradossi is gone, and her jealousy flares again, especially when Scarpia shows her the Marchesa’s fan. Tosca rushes off in a fury to Cavaradossi’s villa, and Scarpia sends his agent Spoletta to follow her. As the Te Deum begins and the choir sings in the church, Scarpia imagines a future in which all his desires come true: he will possess Tosca and send her lover to death.

Act II

Rome, June 17, 1800, evening.
In his room at the Farnese palace, Scarpia is obsessed with thoughts of Tosca and Cavaradossi. He writes her a note inviting her to his room and instructs his agent Sciarrone to deliver it when she arrives at the concert. Spoletta returns from Cavaradossi’s villa, reporting that Angelotti was not found, but he has arrested the painter. Scarpia interrogates Cavaradossi, who denies knowing Angelotti’s whereabouts.

When the concert ends, Tosca is brought to Scarpia’s room. He has Cavaradossi locked in a nearby room and questions her. She reveals nothing, until Scarpia tells her that her lover is being tortured to extract the truth. Hearing his cries, Tosca breaks down and reveals the location of Angelotti’s hiding place. Just then, Sciarrone enters with news that Napoleon’s counterattack at Marengo was successful. Overjoyed, Cavaradossi shouts in triumph, which Scarpia uses as a pretext to order his execution.

Tosca begs Scarpia to spare her lover. Scarpia agrees, on one condition: she must give herself to him. As this happens, Spoletta announces that Angelotti has taken his own life, realizing he had been found. Scarpia tells Tosca that Cavaradossi’s life is now entirely in her hands. She agrees to the deal, and Scarpia instructs Spoletta to stage a mock execution, “as in the previous case.” Tosca demands a safe-conduct for her and Mario. As Scarpia writes it, she notices a knife on his desk. When he approaches her to claim what he desires, she stabs him, declaring, “This is Tosca’s kiss!”. Once she confirms he is dead, she takes the safe-conduct paper and leaves to stop the execution. Before departing, guided by her devout faith, she lights two candles and places a crucifix on Scarpia’s body.

Act III

Rome, June 18, 1800, dawn.
Dawn breaks over Castel Sant’Angelo. In the distance, a shepherd boy is singing. Church bells ring for morning prayers, and Cavaradossi gives a bribe to the jailer to deliver a final letter to Tosca. Suddenly, Tosca arrives with the safe-conduct. The lovers read it joyfully. Tosca tells Mario that she killed Scarpia and instructs him to cooperate with the soldiers, as the execution will only be a sham. A firing squad enters, fires, and leaves. Only then does Tosca discover the truth- Scarpia has deceived her. The bullets were real, and Cavaradossi is dead. As Scarpia’s body is discovered and the soldiers rush in to arrest her, Tosca, realizing her fate is sealed, runs to the top of the fortress and leaps to her death.