Synopsis of Puccini’s ‘Tosca’
Tosca Synopsis
The synopsis of “Tosca” revolves around the intertwining lives of three main characters in a tale of love, jealousy, and political intrigue set in Rome during the Napoleonic era.
Floria Tosca, a passionate opera singer, is deeply in love with Mario Cavaradossi, a painter.
Their happiness is threatened by Baron Scarpia, the corrupt chief of police, who desires Tosca for himself.
The situation escalates when Cavaradossi assists Cesare Angelotti, a fugitive political prisoner.
This act triggers a series of incidents resulting in deception and a heartbreaking outcome.
Giuseppe Giacosa, in collaboration with fellow librettist Luigi Illica, wrote the libretto for ‘Tosca’.
Synopsis of “Tosca”: Act I
A Fugitive Seeks Refuge and Love Blossoms
The opening act unfolds within the walls of the “Sant’Andrea della Valle” church in Rome.
Cesare Angelotti, a political prisoner, escapes and seeks refuge inside. With the assistance of Marchesa Attavanti (his sister disguised as a woman of the nobility), he conceals himself in a private chapel.
However, their joy is endangered by Baron Scarpia, the corrupt chief of police, who desires Tosca for himself.
The church bustles with activity. The sacristan enters, cleaning and offering prayers, while Mario Cavaradossi, a painter, arrives to work on his depiction of Mary Magdalene.
The sacristan notices a resemblance between the portrait and a blonde woman, unaware that it’s Angelotti’s sister.
Cavaradossi clarifies, explaining that the woman in the painting is a stark contrast to his dark-haired lover, Floria Tosca.
The aria “Recondita armonia” (Hidden Harmony) accompanies this exchange.
As the sacristan departs, Angelotti reveals himself to Cavaradossi, his old friend.
The escaped prisoner recounts his pursuit by Baron Scarpia, the ruthless Chief of Police.
Cavaradossi agrees to help after nightfall. Just then, Tosca’s voice disrupts their conversation, forcing Angelotti back into hiding.
Jealousy and Deception
Tosca arrives, suspicious of Cavaradossi’s fidelity. Through the song “Non la sospiri, la nostra casetta” (Do you not long for our little cottage), she attempts to secure some private time. Recognizing Marchesa in the painting fuels her jealousy.
Cavaradossi reassures her with the aria “Qual’occhio al mondo” (What eyes in the world), expressing his admiration for Tosca’s beauty. Convinced, Tosca departs.
Escape Plans and Mounting Suspicion (Tosca Synopsis Act I)
With Tosca gone, Cavaradossi and Angelotti formulate an escape plan, using Marchesa’s clothes as a disguise.
Cavaradossi entrusts Angelotti with the key to his villa, instructing him to hide in an abandoned well within the garden.
A cannon shot reverberates, signaling the discovery of Angelotti’s escape. The friends make a hasty escape from the church.
Interrogation and Manipulation (Tosca Synopsis Act I)
Scarpia and his agents enter the church shortly after, searching for Angelotti.
They discover the Attavanti coat of arms and an empty food basket, confirming their suspicions.
Scarpia interrogates the sacristan and grows suspicious of Cavaradossi’s recent visit, believing him to be involved in the escape.
Tosca returns, searching for Cavaradossi. Scarpia skillfully manipulates her jealousy by hinting at an affair between her lover and Marchesa Attavanti. Tosca, deceived, leaves to confront Cavaradossi.
Scarpia, filled with secret pleasure, plots to eliminate Cavaradossi and possess Tosca. He sends agents to follow her, hoping she’ll lead them to Angelotti.
Synopsis of “Tosca”: Act II
Interrogation, Torture, and a Desperate Bargain
The following act transpires in the evening at Scarpia’s residence.
While having his meal, Scarpia sends Tosca a message, inviting her to his apartment, intending to use her not only for pleasure but also to extract information.
He’s excited because he thinks he’s about to achieve two of his goals.
His helper, Spoletta, comes in to tell him that they haven’t found Angelotti yet, but they have arrested Cavaradossi and brought him in for questioning.
Even though they ask him a lot of questions, the painter insists that he doesn’t know anything about Angelotti’s escape.
The act unfolds with a backdrop of Tosca’s passionate singing, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere within the palace.
A Lover’s Plea and a Brutal Choice (Tosca Synopsis Act II)
Tosca walks into the apartment just as Cavaradossi is being dragged into an adjacent room.
He desperately urges her to remain silent. Scarpia tells Tosca that she can spare her lover from terrible suffering if she discloses where Angelotti is hiding.
She tries to stay strong, but the sound of cries from the other room finally makes her break down and reveal Angelotti’s hiding place.
She tells Scarpia to look for Angelotti in the well in the garden of Cavaradossi’s house.
A bloodied Cavaradossi is brought back, devastated by his friend’s betrayal and further tormented by Scarpia.
A Shattered Love and a Heartfelt Plea (Tosca Synopsis Act II)
Scarpia tells his men to stop hurting the painter, who is brought back into the room looking hurt.
He’s really sad when he finds out that Tosca has told Scarpia about his friend’s hideout.
Then, another one of Scarpia’s helpers, Sciarrone, comes in with some news: there’s been a big fight at Marengo, and the French are on their way to Rome.
Cavaradossi can’t help but tell Scarpia that his days of scaring people are almost over.
This makes the police think he’s guilty, and they take him away to be punished.
Now Scarpia is alone with Tosca. He tells her that, if she agrees to be with him, he’ll let Cavaradossi go.
Tosca is disgusted and keeps refusing his advances with defiance.
But then she hears the sound of drums outside, signaling that someone is about to be executed.
As Scarpia waits for her answer, she prays, asking why God has left her alone when she needs help the most: “Vissi d’arte” (“I lived for art”).
She attempts to bribe, but Scarpia doesn’t want that. He wants Tosca.
A False Hope and a Deadly Act (Tosca Synopsis Act II)
Just as despair seems to engulf her, Spoletta arrives with news of Angelotti’s suicide and Cavaradossi’s impending execution.
Scarpia hesitates, unsure whether to give the order, and looks at Tosca.
Driven to despair, Tosca agrees to Scarpia’s demands in exchange for a staged execution and safe passage for herself and Cavaradossi.
He instructs Spoletta to arrange a pretend execution, mentioning it should be “like what we did with Count Palmieri.” Then Spoletta departs.
Tosca insists that Scarpia ensure she and Cavaradossi can leave Rome safely.
He agrees effortlessly and moves to his desk to write the safe conduct, momentarily turning his back on Tosca.
Seizing the opportunity, she quietly picks up a knife from the dinner table.
Thereafter, Scarpia approaches Tosca, looking very pleased with himself.
But as he is about to embrace her, she stabs him and exclaims, “This is Tosca’s kiss!”
Once she is certain he is dead, she somberly says, “Now, I forgive him.”
She retrieves the safe-conduct from his pocket, lights some candles as a sign of respect, and places a cross on his body—a gesture that hints at both piety and a sense of remorse for her actions.
She then flees the scene.
Synopsis of “Tosca”: Act III
Act III is all about a glimmer of hope and a devastating twist.
The opening scene takes place in the upper parts of Castel Sant’Angelo.
A Haunting Melody and a Farewell Plea
The sound of church bells tolling accompanies a shepherd boy’s melancholic aria, “Io de’ sospiri” (I give you sighs).
Cavaradossi is brought in to face his execution. In a desperate attempt to connect with his lost love one last time, he requests permission to write a farewell letter to Tosca.
As he begins to write, he’s overwhelmed by a flood of memories, pouring his heart out in the poignant aria “E lucevan le stelle” (And the stars shone).
A Lover’s Deception and a Flawed Escape Plan
Tosca arrives, bringing a glimmer of hope. She brandishes a safe-conduct pass she claims to have obtained and informs Cavaradossi that Scarpia is dead.
The execution, she assures him, is a mere formality. They must act quickly and convincingly to escape before Scarpia’s body is discovered.
Filled with renewed hope and gratitude, Cavaradossi sings “O dolci mani” (Oh, sweet hands), expressing his love for Tosca.
They devise a plan: Cavaradossi will play along with the execution using Tosca’s theatrical skills, feigning death when the soldiers fire blank rounds.
A Shattered Illusion and Unbearable Grief (Tosca Synopsis Act II)
The soldiers arrive, Cavaradossi is taken away, and Tosca watches nervously as the firing squad gets ready.
The soldiers fire their muskets. Cavaradossi falls to the ground, and relief washes over Tosca.
Tosca comments on how real his fall looks, saying, “Ecco un artista!” (“What an actor!”).
When the soldiers are gone, she rushes to Cavaradossi, telling him, “Mario, su presto!” (“Mario, get up quickly!”), but a horrifying realization dawns on her.
She discovers the bullets were real—Cavaradossi is truly dead. Betrayed and heartbroken, she collapses beside his lifeless body, her cries echoing through the fortress.
A Final Act of Defiance and a Heartbreaking Conclusion
The sounds of Spoletta Sciarrone and the soldiers returning interrupt her grief.
They’ve discovered Scarpia’s murder and are determined to apprehend Tosca.
As the men come in, Tosca gets up, avoids their grasp, and runs to the wall.
Shouting “O Scarpia, avanti a Dio!” (“O Scarpia, we meet before God!”), she jumps off the wall to her death.
Final Note
The synopsis of “Tosca” encapsulates the opera’s themes of love, betrayal, and sacrifice, all set against a backdrop of political turmoil and personal vendettas.
The opera ends with a big, dramatic moment. Tosca, knowing she’s about to be caught for killing Scarpia, jumps off a high wall to her death.
The final scene is a masterstroke of theatricality, a fitting end to an opera that brims with dramatic confrontations and grand gestures.
Tosca’s leap into the void, a desperate act by a woman who has lost everything, is a poignant symbol of the tragic consequences of political tyranny and personal jealousy.
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