Italian composers are famous all over the world. One of them is Giacomo Puccini (his photo is presented below). This is the author of an opera called "Longing." It is about this work that we will talk today.
The opera Tosca, a brief summary of which is presented in this article, opens with three crushing chords. They are always used further to characterize Scarpia. This character is an ominous police chief, a merciless, albeit externally refined man. He personifies the reactionary forces of Italy. In 1800, Napoleon was considered the apostle of freedom in this country, which was reflected in such a work as the opera Tosca. The summary continues with the opening of the curtain, marking the beginning of the first action.
Beginning of the first action
The curtain rises immediately after the opening chords. The viewer is presented with an internal view of the church of Sant Andrea della Balle, located in Rome. A man in tattered clothes comes into one of her side doors, trembling with fear. This is Angelotti, a political prisoner who escaped from prison. He is hiding in the church. His sister, the Marquis of Attavanti, hid the key to the family chapel, in which her brother is hiding, under the Madonna statue. Angelotti is frantically looking for him. Puccini’s opera "Tosca" continues with the fact that this hero, finding him, hastily unlocks the chapel door and hides in it. He manages to do this before the sacristy enters with food and things for the artist who works here.
The sacristan comes to Cavaradossi
The sacristan is busy with his thoughts. He talks about something with himself, going to the artist’s place of work. The sacristan is unhappy that the features of one of the parishioners appear in the image of a saint. Perhaps the devil himself controls the hand of this impudent painter. Here comes the artist himself, Mario Cavaradossi. He begins to work on the image of Mary Magdalene. On the easel is a painting, half finished. Cavaradossi sings the aria "His face changes forever." In it, he compares with the features of his beloved, Floria Tosca (famous singer), the outline of his portrait.
The artist discovers a fugitive
The sacristan leaves. The artist discovers Angelotti, who believes that the church is empty and decides to leave the shelter. His fright at the sight of the artist is immediately replaced by joy - he and Mario are old friends. The artist now will not leave a runaway prisoner in trouble. However, their conversation is interrupted by a knock on the door.
Appearance in the Church of Floria Tosca
Want to know how the opera Tosca continues? The summary introduces the reader to further developments. Floria Tosca asks to open the door to the church. Cavaradossi, barely hearing the woman’s voice, pushes his friend back into the chapel to hide there. Floria comes in. This is an amazingly beautiful woman, dressed gorgeous. She, like most other beauties, easily succumbs to jealousy. Now this feeling arouses in her a portrait painted by Cavaradossi. She recognizes the blonde beauty. The artist has some work to calm his beloved. Floria is not able to be angry for a long time at Mario, and they agree after a meeting to meet in the artist’s villa after the evening performance of Floria in the Farnese Palace. Angelotti, after her departure, again leaves her hiding place. He is led away by Cavaradossi in order to hide at home.
Police chief is looking for a fugitive
The plot of the opera Tosca is developing rapidly. News comes that Napoleon was defeated in northern Italy. Priests in the church are making preparations for worship on this occasion. Scarpia is in the midst of his preparation. The police chief is looking for a runaway Angelotti. Together with Spoletta, his detective, he finds a lot of evidence that it is here that the fugitive is hiding. Among the evidence, these protagonists of the play find, for example, a fan with the coat of arms of Attavanti. Scarpia uses it cunningly to arouse Floria's jealousy, to which is burning with passion.
Worship
The service begins. A large procession enters the church. While sounds in honor of the victory over Bonaparte Te Deum, Scarpia stands on the side. The police chief hopes that he can get rid of the competitor, and uses Floria's jealousy for this. If his plan succeeds, Cavaradossi will be on the scaffold, and he will receive Longing. Before the curtain falls, Scarpia kneels in prayer before the cardinal, but his thoughts are absorbed in the devilish plan.
Beginning of the second action
In the palace of Farnese on the evening of the same day, victory over Bonaparte is celebrated. The sounds of music are heard through the open windows of the police station located right there in the palace. Scarpia in her office thinks about the events of this day. He sends with Sciarrone, with his gendarme, a note to Tosca, and also receives a message from the detective Spoletta. He searched the house of Cavaradossi, but Angelotti did not find it there, but saw Tosca. Spoletta arrested Cavaradossi, who was in the palace.
Interrogation of Cavaradossi and Tosca
While the voice of Floria performing the solo part sounds, her lover is being interrogated in Scarpia's office, but to no avail. When Floria appears, Cavaradossi manages to whisper to her that the police chief does not know anything, and that she should not talk about what she saw in his house. Scarpia orders to take the artist to the torture chamber. The gendarmes obey this order, and with them the executioner Roberti.
After this, Scarpia begins to interrogate Tosca. A woman maintains her composure, but only until she hears the groans of Cavaradossi coming from the camera. Unable to bear it, she gives out the place where Angelotti is. This is a well in the garden. Exhausted by torture, Cavaradossi is taken to Scarpia’s office. The artist immediately realizes that his lover has betrayed his friend. Immediately after this, news arrives that Bonaparte won in Marengo. Cavaradossi cannot restrain joy. He sings a song praising freedom. Scarpia orders to take him to prison and execute him the next morning.
The murder of Scarpia
Then the chief of police again begins an insidious conversation with Floria. During this dialogue is included in a work such as the opera "Tosca", the aria of Tosca. Floria sings "Only sang, only loved." This passionate appeal to music and love - two forces to which Tosca devoted her whole life. A woman decides to sacrifice herself for the salvation of her beloved.
Scarpia now explains that since he had already ordered the execution of Cavaradossi, at least false preparations for execution should be made. He calls Spoletta and gives him the necessary instructions, and also writes out passes so that Cavaradossi and Tosca can leave Rome. However, at that moment when Scarpia turns to her, intending to wrap the woman in her arms, Tosca plunges a dagger into the police chief. The orchestra at this time plays three chords of Scarpia, but now it is very quiet.
Floria washes her hands, and then takes passes from Scarpia’s hands, places a candle on both sides of the victim’s head and puts a crucifix on his chest. The curtain falls when Floria disappears from the office.
Beginning of the third action
Quite calmly, the final action begins. An early morning song performed by a shepherdess sounds offstage. The scene of the third action is the roof of the Roman castle of Sant'Angelo. It is here that should be brought for the execution of Cavaradossi. He is given a short time to prepare himself for death. He uses this time to write Tosca's last letter. This is a very touching scene, which appears to the audience in the third act (opera "Tosca"). The "Longing" aria that Cavaradossi sings at this moment is called "Stars Burned in the Sky."
Passionate duet of lovers
Then Floria appears. She shows her lover rescue passes and tells how she managed to kill the police chief. A passionate love duet looks forward to a happy future. Tosca then says that Cavaradossi should go through a farce of false executions, and then they will run away together.
Tragic ending
Enter the calculation led by Spoletta. Mario stands in front of him. A shot sounds, the artist falls. The soldiers are leaving. Floria falls on the body of the murdered lover. She only realizes now that Scarpia has deceived her. The cartridges turned out to be real, and Cavaradossi was killed. Weeping over his corpse, the young woman does not notice the steps of the returning soldiers. They found Scarpia's body. Spoletta is trying to capture Floria, but the woman pushes him away, climbs the parapet and rushes down from the roof of the castle. The soldiers, frozen in horror, stand motionless while the motive of the dying aria of Cavaradossi sounds.
So the opera "Tosca" ends. The summary presented by us, of course, does not even closely convey the full splendor of this work. Of course, it is worthwhile to see it in the theater whenever possible. Italian composers are considered one of the best in the world. The opera, created by Giacomo Puccini, once again proves this.