[Puccini's librettists for Tosca, as in the case of Madama Butterfly a few years later, were Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. They based their libretto, following the composer's directives, upon Victorien Sardou's La Tosca, written as a star vehicle for the great actress Sarah Bernhardt. The following article concisely compares the original play with the opera. See the article 'Puccini and Tosca' for further information about the libretto. - NMR]
A play such as La Tosca can not be set to music without considerable change. To make an opera libretto, it is always necessary to make many cuts. It takes much longer to sing a line than to say it. Sardou's La Tosca has five acts and twenty-three characters; the opera Tosca was reduced to three acts and nine characters. While the essentials of the story were preserved, much of the detail was lost, including information about the backgrounds of the characters and the history of the period. As a result, some points obscure, for example: how did Angelotti escape in prison garb in full daylight and cross through busy city streets? A study of the play fills in some of the gaps. (The links connect to more detailed information about the various characters.)
ACT I
Sardou's Act I takes place, during the early afternoon, in Bernini's church
of Sant'Andrea degli Gesuit. This is Sant'Andrea of the Quirinale a Jesuit church,
in a different part of Rome from Sant'Andrea della Valle.
Angelotti has been hiding in the church all night. When he appears, we learn that Cavaradossi has heard of him, but they have never met. The escapee proceeds to tell his story. His family had hoped for his release when a new Pope was elected, but the recent arrival of Baron Scarpia has put an end to this possibility. His sister, the Marquise Attavanti, has bribed one of his jailers, Trebelli, to let him escape and to give him the key to the family chapel where she has hidden women's clothing, including the fatal fan. He was able to mingle with the workers who were repairing the damage the French had done to the Castel Sant'Angelo and leave with them. Trebelli was to have to collected Angelotti in a carriage during the High Mass and taken him to Frascati where his sister is to meet him, but the jailerdid not appear. Cavaradossi advises him to stay in the church until it reopens later that afternoon. Then he can mix with the crowd and thus escape detection. However, even if captured, he won't be sent to Naples, he has a ring with poison in it so that he can kill himself. As Tosca is heard, he hides.
Sardou's stage directions indicate thatTosca arrives with a long walking stick and a bunch of flowers. In early productions, this costume detail was followed in the opera. She tells Mario she can not meet him that night because she is performing at a gala the Queen of Naples is holding in honor of surrender of Genoa by General Massena. There will be a concert followed by a ball. As she and Mario talk, her maid brings a letter from the composer Paisiello , in which he tells of the supposed victory of the Austrians at Marengo. He is writing a special cantata to mark the occasion and asks that she sing it at the gala that evening. She has to leave immediately to rehearse it.
After she leaves, Angelotti comes out. Because of the special prayers of thanksgiving which are to be said in honor of the 'victory', the church will open early, and they will be able take advantage of this to leave from the city before the gates close, not waiting for Trebelli. However, a single cannon shot announces the prisoners escape has been discovered, and they leave immediately.
When Scarpia and his henchmen appear, we learn that Trebelli has confessed and been executed. As in the opera, the discovery of the fan and the empty food basket are evidence Angelotti has been there. There is no ecclesiastical procession. The act ends as the organ sounds and Scarpia kneels to thank God for his anticipated victory.
ACT II In the Palazzo Farnese
Diego Naselli, the historic Prince or Aragon and Governor of Rome at the time,
is present. Scarpia realizes that, if Angelotti escapes, he will be disgraced.
He doesn't fear the Queen, but Emma Hamilton, who will have him hanged. He will
use the fan, as Iago used the handkerchief in Shakespeare's Othello.
After he arouses Floria's jealousy she tries to run to Mario and not sing the
cantata, but he prevents her from leaving, telling her she can go after she
has sung. Just as its first chords sound, the message is brought about the defeat
of General Melas by Napoleon at Marengo. Floria leaves and Scarpia orders the
"elegantly dressed" Spoletta to have her followed
ACT III Mario's villa
The torture scene takes place here. Angelotti is found, but he has taken poison.
Mario is taken to prison, and Scarpia orders Floria to be taken also.
ACT IV Scarpia's quarters in the Castel Sant'Angelo. His bed is visible.
Scarpia orders Cavaradossi to be hanged before dawn. The corpse of Angelotti
shall be hung beside him. Part of his later bargain with Tosca is to use firing
squad instead, making it easier to fake the execution. All of Tosca's stage
business after she kills Scarpia, much probably suggested by Sarah Bernhardt,
are in the play's directions. She is supposed to go to the mirror, fix her hair,
blow out the candles, look for the safe-conduct, finally find it in the dead
man's hand, lay a crucifix on Scarpia's breast, and set the lighted candles
on either side of him. This is very effective theater in itself. When set to
music in the opera, the effect is spine-chilling! There is no singing, just
the orchestra mirroring Tosca's emotions and movements. Truly, this is drama
through music.
ACT V
Tosca is not present during the 'shooting'. When she discovers Mario's corpse,
she is so wrought that she confesses she killed Scarpia before leaping to her
death.