tosca Synopsis

Rome, 1800

Cesare Angelotti, having escaped from prison, finds a hiding-place in the church of Sant’ Andrea della Valle. Mario returns to the church to resume his painting of Mary Magdalen, the model for which is an unknown lady who comes daily to pray (in fact she is Angelotti’s sister, the Marchesa Attavanti). Angelotti emerges from his hiding place and Mario recognizes him as the consul of the Roman Republic. Tosca, Mario’s mistress, is heard approaching, and Angelotti is forced again into hiding. Tosca becomes jealous of the model for Mario’s painting and leaves. Mario, decides to hide Angelotti in his villa, and they both leave.

Scarpia, the feared and lecherous chief of police, enters searching for the escapted prisoner Angelooti. He finds a fan left behind by Angelotti’s sister, and Mario’s lunch basket. He is suspicious because he knows that Mario is a Republican; and he knows of his relationship with Tosca, whom Scarpia covets. When Tosca returns to speak with Mario, Scarpia intercepts her and suggests that her lover may have left with the owner of the fan. Tosca leaves for Mario’s villa in a fury, not realizing that she is being followed by Spoletta who reports to Scarpia. Scarpia plans to execute the painter, Mario, and seduce the singer, Tosca.

Scarpia waits to be joined by Tosca for dinner in his apartment in the Farnese Palace. Mario has been arrested under suspicion of helping Angelotti, and he is brought in by Spoletta. When Tosca is compelled to hear his torture, she promises to reveal Angelotti’s hiding place if her lover is freed. Mario spurns Tosca and hearing that the royal troops have been defeated he defies Scarpia. Scarpia orders him to be shot.

When Mario has been removed, Scarpia suggests to Tosca that there may be a way to save him yet – by giving herself to Scarpia. She agrees to give herself if he will free Mario. Despite his promise, Scarpia instructs Spoletta to carry out the execution. Tosca mistakenly believes it will be faked. Scarpia turns to embrace his prize, but Tosca instead stabs him with a knife, and leaves with a safe-conduct pass for herself and Mario.

At dawn Mario is executed by the firing squad. His last thoughts are for Tosca, who unexpectedly appears to tell him that the bullets will not be real, and to lie still. They look forward to a life together. Mario is killed, and Tosca hears the approaching voices of Spoletta and the guards who have found Scarpia’s dead body. Tosca despairs, and throws herself off the battlements to her death.