GIACOMO PUCCINI
TOSCA
CONTENTS
P.
4
SYNOPSIS P.
6
CHRONOLOGY FOR TOSCA P.
10
PUCCINI AND VERISMO ARNOLD JACOBSHAGEN P.
16
LA TOSCA BETWEEN NAPOLEON AND PUCCINI HERBERT ROSENDORFER
P.
24
MARGARETE WALLMANN SILVIA KARGL P.
30
TOO MUCH AND TOO LITTLE DRAMA OLIVER LÁNG P.
36
THE SOUND OF THE UNDEAD SCARPIA JENDRIK SPRINGER P.
44
IMPRINT
GIACOMO PUCCINI
TOSCA
MELODRAMMA in three acts Libretto GIUSEPPE GIACOSA & LUIGI ILLICA after Victorien Sardou’s La Tosca
ORCHESTRA
STAGE MUSIC
3 flutes (2nd and 3rd double as piccolo) / 2 oboes / cor anglais 2 clarinets / bass clarinet / 2 bassoons contrabassoon / 4 horns / 3 trumpets 3 trombones / bass trombone percussion / bells / harp / celeste organ / violin I / violin II viola / cello / double bass flute / 4 horns / 3 trombones viola / harp / bells / percussion
AUTOGRAPH Ricordi Archive, Milan WORLD PREMIÈRE 14 JANUARY 1900 Rome, Teatro Costanzi FIRST PERFORMANCE AT THE VIENNA COURT OPERA 26 JANUARY 1910 LENGTH
2 H 45 MIN
(INCL. 2 INTERMISSIONS)
TOSCA
SYNOPSIS ACT 1 Rome in 1800. Angelotti, consul of the former Roman Republic, has escaped the Castel Sant’Angelo where he was imprisoned. In the church of Sant’An drea della Valle, he meets the painter Mario Cavaradossi, a sympathizer for the republic, who promises him help. In addition, his sister the Marchesa At tavanti, has deposited womenʼs clothes for him in their family chapel for a dis guise. Floria Tosca, a famous singer and jealous lover of Cavaradossi, arrives to meet the painter for a night of love in her villa. She discovers that the painting on which Cavaradossi is working, bears a resemblance to Attavanti. Only after the painter has been able to appease her jealousy and she has left the church can Cavaradossi and Angelotti plan the former consul’s escape: he should hide at Cavaradossi’s estate. A cannon shot reveals that his escape from Castel Sant’Angelo has been discovered, and Cavaradossi accompanies Angelotti to the hiding place. In the church, the supposed victory over Napoleon at Marengo (and with it a setback for the republican aspirations) is greatly celebrated. The brutal police chief Baron Scarpia, who hopes to dis cover evidence of Angelotti’s escape in the church, interrupts the celebration. By means of a fan belonging to the Marchesa Attavanti, he manages to stir up jealousy in the returning Tosca, who then rushes after Cavaradossi to con front him with his infidelity. Scarpia’s henchmen follow her. In a diabolical Previous pages: SCENE
monologue, Scarpia ponders his desire and lust to own Tosca for himself and to see Cavaradossi dead.
ACT 2 The victory over Napoleon is also cele brated in the Palazzo Farnese with a performance including Tosca. Mean while, Scarpia has Cavaradossi tortured to find out Angelotti’s hiding place. When Tosca hears his screams of pain, she reveals the secret in order to protect her lover. The news then arrives that Napoleon has triumphed at Marengo. The end of tyranny is at hand. Before that, however, Cavaradossi is to be exe cuted. In order to save him, Scarpia demands Tosca’s sexual submission to him. She agrees, receiving the promise of a mock execution and safe travel per mits – she then murders Scarpia.
ACT 3 On the roof of Castel Sant’Angelo where his execution is to take place, Ca varadossi loses himself in memories of Tosca. She appears and reports on his rescue, and the impending fake shoot ing. However, Scarpia has betrayed her and Cavaradossi is indeed shot by the soldiers. Life has become meaningless for Tosca. When Scarpia’s henchmen approach, she throws herself off of Cas tel Sant’Angelo.
4
WOLFGANG MARGGRAF
BELIEF IN THE REALITY OF FREEDOM GIVES THE ENDING OF TOSCA A UTOPIAN MOMENT THAT TAKES US BEYOND THE ACTUAL DEFEAT OF THE HEROES INTO THE FUTURE.