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Tosca

Love, jealousy, hatred, death. These are the attributes of almost every opera, Tosca is no exception. This most famous of Puccinis operas was premiered in Rome a hundred years ago, but its passionate music still manages to move audiences.

The action takes place in Rome on 17-18 June 1800. Cavaradossi, a painter known for his republican sympathies, helps Angelotti, former Consul of the Roman Republic and a fugitive, to hide. Floria Tosca, a celebrated singer who is Cavaradossi’s lover, suspects that Cavaradossi has been meeting the Marchesa Attavanti, whom he has used as a model for his painting of Mary Magdalen. The dreaded Chief of Police, Scarpia, lusts after Tosca and inflames her jealousy in the hope that she will lead him to Angelottiï’s hiding-place. He sends Spoletta to follow Tosca. Spoletta, unable to find Angelotti, arrests Cavaradossi. As the price for Cavaradossi’s life, she agrees to give herself to Scarpia. A mock execution is arranged and Scarpia writes a safe conduct pass for Tosca and Cavaradossi. As Scarpia approaches her, Tosca kills him.

In the prison Tosca tells Cavaradossi that the firing squad will fake the execution. Shots ring out and Cavaradossi falls. But Scarpia has tricked her: Cavaradossi is dead. Shouts reveal that Scarpiaïs murder has been discovered; Tosca jumps from the battlements.