Opera in three acts

Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa Based on the work by Victorien Sardou

First performed in Rome on 14 January 1900

Soloists and Orchestra of the Opera 2001 Lyric Company

Participation of the Sicilian Lyric Choir

Original version in Italian (opera with surtitles)

CO-PRODUCTION OPERA 2001 - OPÉRA DE MASSY (Paris-Sud)

Duration of the show: 2H45

First part: 90 minutes

Intermission of 15 minutes

Second part: 60 minutes

The opera is set in Rome in 1800. While painting a picture of the Madonna in the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, the painter Mario Cavaradossi, lover of the jealous Tosca, agrees to help the political prisoner Angelotti in his escape. The police chief, Scarpia, whose political aims conceal a strange sadism, launches into pursuit and soon discovers Cavaradossi's involvement. The only way to achieve his ends is to use the beautiful Tosca, the target of his obsessions. Cavaradossi is arrested. Scarpia briefly believes he possesses the beautiful Tosca, just before she stabs him. Although Scarpia dies, his dark plans outlive him. When Tosca thinks she can finally free her beloved Mario, he is executed, and Tosca, rather than be captured, prefers to throw herself off the top of Castel Sant'Angelo.