Bob Jones University

Synopsis

Act I – The Church of Sant' Andrea della Valle

Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, flees to the church where he conceals himself in the private chapel of the Attavanti family. The old sacristan shuffles in. Soon Mario Cavaradossi, an artist and follower of the Bonapartists, arrives to work on a painting inspired by the Marchesa Attavanti, Angelotti's sister, whom he has seen in prayer. After the grumbling sacristan leaves, Angelotti ventures out of the chapel and recognizes his friend, Mario. Their reunion is interrupted by the arrival of Tosca, who comes to plead with Mario for a rendezvous in the country. Suddenly noticing the painting, Tosca becomes jealous of the young Attavanti. Mario assures her that she has nothing to fear and hurriedly dismisses her. He offers Angelotti refuge at his villa. A distant cannon shot signals the prisoner's escape, and the two men leave together. The sacristan returns, and a group of boisterous choir boys enters. He announces that they will sing in the celebration of Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Marengo. Their clamorous reply is cut short by the sudden appearance of Baron Scarpia and his agents who are searching for Angelotti. Scarpia finds a woman's fan, part of the female disguise that had been left for Angelotti by his sister. At this point, the unsuspecting Tosca returns, and Scarpia uses the fan to incite her jealousy. Believing Mario unfaithful, she vows vengeance and leaves in a tearful rage, followed by Scarpia's agents. The church fills with worshipers, and as the procession advances toward the high altar and the Te Deum is sung, Scarpia swears that Mario and Angelotti shall be destroyed and that Tosca shall be his.

Act II – Scarpia's Apartment in the Palazzo Farnese

Scarpia, impatiently awaiting news of Mario and Angelotti, sends a note to Tosca, who is singing at Queen Carolina's celebration below, telling her that he has word of her lover. Mario has been arrested and is now brought in. Soon Tosca arrives, and as Mario is taken to the torture chamber, he warns Tosca to say nothing. Unable to bear Mario's suffering, she reveals that Angelotti's hiding place is an old well in the garden near Mario's villa. At that moment, Sciarrone brings word that contrary to the recent report, Napoleon was victorious at Marengo. Mario's rejoicing seals his doom as a political enemy, and he is dragged from the room. Tosca, now alone with her tormentor, pleads for mercy. Spoletta interrupts with news that Angelotti took poison at the moment of capture. Finally, under great duress, Tosca agrees to yield to Scarpia if he will stay Mario's execution and give them both a safe-conduct to leave the country. Scarpia promises he will order a mock execution for Mario, after which he will be freed. No sooner has Scarpia signed the safe-conduct than Tosca snatches a knife gleaming in the candlelight and fatally stabs him.

 Act III – The Roof of the Prison Castel Sant' Angelo

Dawn brings preparations for the execution, and Tosca and Mario are granted a short time alone. She shows him the safe-conduct and tells him that he must pretend to be shot and remain prostrate until the officials have departed. At four o'clock the execution appears to go as planned, but when Tosca rushes to Mario telling him to arise quickly, she finds he is dead. Now Scarpia's murder has been discovered, and as his agents rush up to the roof to apprehend Tosca, she leaps over the battlement to her death.