“Tosca” — Puccini’s enduring favorite, starring an exceptional trio of singing actors in the leading roles — features acclaimed American soprano Patricia Racette as the ultimate diva, Floria Tosca, in Luc Bondy’s production. French tenor Roberto Alagna sings Tosca’s lover, the painter Cavaradossi, and Georgian baritone George Gagnidze is the corrupt, lustful Scarpia.
Italian maestro Riccardo Frizza conducts Puccini’s sweeping, dramatic tale of murder, lust, and political intrigue.
ACT I
Rome, June 1800. Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, rushes into a church to hide. Once he has disappeared, the painter Mario Cavaradossi enters to work on his portrait of Mary Magdalene. He compares the dark-haired beauty of his lover, the singer Floria Tosca, to that of the blonde Marchesa Attavanti, whom he has seen in the church and who has inspired the painting. Angelotti, a member of the former Bonapartiste government, ventures out and is recognized by his friend Cavaradossi. The painter hurries him back into hiding as Tosca is heard from outside. She jealously questions Cavaradossi, then reminds him of their rendezvous that evening. Recognizing the Marchesa in the painting, she accuses him of being unfaithful, but he assures her of his love. When Tosca has left, Angelotti emerges, and he and Cavaradossi flee to the painter’s villa. The sacristan enters with choirboys who are to sing in a Te Deum that day celebrating a victory against Napoleon. Their excitement is silenced by the arrival of Scarpia, chief of the secret police, who is searching for Angelotti. When Tosca comes back, Scarpia shows her a fan with the Attavanti crest he has found. Seemingly finding her suspicions confirmed, Tosca vows vengeance and leaves. Scarpia sends his men to follow her. While the gathered congregation sings the Te Deum, he swears that he will bend Tosca to his will.
ACT II
Alone in his palace, Scarpia anticipates the pleasure of having Tosca in his power. The spy Spoletta arrives, explaining that he didn’t find Angelotti. Instead he brings in Cavaradossi. While Scarpia interrogates the painter, Tosca is heard singing at a royal gala downstairs. Scarpia sends for her and she enters just as Cavaradossi is being taken away to be tortured. Frightened by her lover’s screams, Tosca reveals Angelotti’s hiding place. Cavaradossi is carried in, almost unconscious. Realizing what has happened, he angrily confronts Tosca, when the officer Sciarrone announces that Napoleon has won the Battle of Marengo, a defeat for Scarpia’s side. Cavaradossi shouts out his defiance of tyranny and is dragged off to be executed. Scarpia suggests to Tosca that he would let Cavaradossi go free if she’d give herself to him. She calls on God and declares that she has dedicated her life to art and love. Scarpia insists, when Spoletta interrupts: faced with capture, Angelotti has killed himself. Tosca, now forced to give in or lose her lover, agrees to Scarpia’s proposition. The police chief orders a mock execution for Cavaradossi, after which he is to be freed. As soon as Scarpia has written a safe-conduct for the lovers, Tosca takes a knife from the table and kills him.
ACT III
Cavaradossi, awaiting execution, writes a farewell letter to Tosca and gives in to his despair. Tosca appears and explains to him what has happened. She instructs him how to fake his death convincingly, then hides. The soldiers fire and depart. When Cavaradossi doesn’t move, Tosca realizes that Scarpia has betrayed her and that the bullets were real. As Spoletta rushes in to arrest her, Tosca leaps from the battlement.