Tosca
Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space Opera in Cinema |
  |
Tosca
Performed at Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa
Giacomo Puccini
2 hours, 30 minutes with 2 intermissions
Conductor: Marco Boemi
Director: Renzo Giacchieri
Starring: Daniela Dessì
Production by the Opera Theatre of Rome
Conductor: Marco Boemi
Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Carlo Felice
Chorus master Ciro Visco
Chorus of Voci Bianche del Teatro Carlo Felice
Choir master of di Voci Bianche Gino Tanasini
Director: Renzo Giacchieri
Scenic design & costumes: Adolf Hohenstein
Cast
Daniela Dessì (Tosca)
Fabio Armiliato (Cavaradossi)
Claudio Sgura (Scarpia)
Enrico Iori (Angelotti)
Armando Gabba (Sagrestano)
Mario Bolognesi (Spoletta)
Angelo Nardinocchi (Sciarrone)
The chorus (A jailer)
Synopsis
Act 1 – in the Attavanti chapel, in the church of Sant’ Andrea della Valle
Escaped political prisoner Angelotti rushes into the church to hide. Soon, painter and fellow dissident Mario Cavaradossi arrives to work on a new portrait of Mary Magdalene, inspired by the visage of Angelotti’s sister, the Marchesa Attavanti, who Mario has seen but doesn’t know personally. He holds a miniature of the singer Floria Tosca, and compares the painting’s light features with Tosca’s dark ones. Angelotti emerges, but Mario urges him to hide again as they hear Tosca approaching. Tosca, always jealous, questions her lover Mario, prays, and reminds him of their planned meeting at his villa that night. Tosca then recognizes the face in the picture – Angelotti’s sister! She bursts with newfound jealousy, but Mario quells her suspicions. After she leaves, Angelotti emerges again – but cannon fire is heard, indicating that Angelotti’s escape has been discovered. The two men rush to Mario’s villa. The Sacristan enters with choir boys excited about their performance in a Te Deum that day. They are hushed when the chief of the secret police Baron Scarpia enters in search of Angelotti. Tosca re-enters, hoping to see Mario again, but is met by Scarpia, who produces a fan bearing the Attavanti crest – deepening her suspicions that her lover has been unfaithful. Tosca storms off, and Scarpia sends his men to follow her. He vows that he will have the singer in his power.
Act 2 – The Farnese Palace
Scarpia anticipates the joy he will have when Tosca is in his power. The spy Spoletta returns. He was unable to find Angelotti, so he brought in Mario for interrogation. Tosca is heard singing at a gala downstairs. She enters the room just as Mario is hauled off to the torture chamber, where the secret police hope to break his silence. Mario’s screams and Scarpia’s questioning break down Tosca’s resolve, and she reveals where Angelotti is hiding. Mario is carried in, and, realizing that Tosca has betrayed Angelotti, turns on her. Another one of Scarpia’s men enter and reports (erroneously) that Napoleon has won the Battle of Marengo – a defeat for Scarpia’s side. Mario exclaims in celebration, and is taken to prison. Scarpia resumes his supper, and suggests to Tosca that she should give over her body to Scarpia in exchange for her lover’s life. Tosca pushes him away as she protests her fate to God. Scarpia makes another move, but they are interrupted by Spoletta – Angelotti, facing capture, has killed himself. Tosca agrees to Scarpia’s proposition. He then seemingly orders a mock execution for Mario – “a la Palmieri,” he tells Spoletta, who responds knowingly and exits.
