1700, as well as 1800, was an extremely turbulent time in Italy… (As were most of the centuries before that.) Practically all of Europe had troops in the Italian boot and many of the old City-states still had reasonably strong armed forces. Hard times, but fighting was nothing new for the Italians. The Austrians under commander Michael von Melas, defended their territories in northern Italy. In 1800 the French and Napoleon entered Italy in their second Italian Campaign. This makes Cavaradossi cry out in a triumphant: Victory! That outburst makes a big difference and it takes the story on a very different and much more sinister path.īut let’s not jump ahead. The Austrians didn’t win, but Napoleon did. In the second act there’s the correction of the report. This is not true, but it makes everybody very happy, and they dance and shout and sing.

In the first act the Sacristan tells his altar boys that Napoleon has been defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Marengo. We know this because there are two significant breaking news in the drama. Background – The Opera Tosca is set in… Rome Please keep your phone turned off when inside the theater. Print it, fold it, and keep it in your pocket as a help when you’re at the Opera. A Gendarme in Scarpia’s Police.īased on the screenplay La Tosca by Victorien Sardou.ĭownload this short Pdf-guide. Imprisoned politician who’s managed to flee. Republican and revolutionary follower of Napoleon.

Mario Cavaradossi – Lyric-Dramatic tenor.

Floria Tosca – Lyric-Dramatic soprano.

Running Time – 2 hours or less, plus Intervals

Librettist – Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica Premiere – January 14, 1900, Teatro Costanzi, Rome, Italy

Tosca opera complete