Tosca Facts for Kids

1899 poster

Tosca is a famous Italian opera with music by Giacomo Puccini. It was first performed in Rome on January 14, 1900. The story, called the libretto, was written by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. It was based on a play called La Tosca by Victorien Sardou. Tosca quickly became a huge success and is still very popular today.

Story of Tosca
- Setting the Scene
Main Characters
Images for kids
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Story of Tosca

Setting the Scene

The story of Tosca takes place in Rome in the year 1800. At that time, Rome had been ruled by the Pope. But then, a powerful leader named Napoleon invaded Rome and changed it into a republic, which is a type of government where people elect their leaders.

Later, Napoleon's French army had to leave Rome. This allowed people from Naples to take control. The new government started arresting people who had been part of the previous republican government. In 1800, Napoleon won an important battle called the "Battle of Marengo" and was planning to return to Rome. This political situation creates a lot of tension in the opera.

Act 1: Hiding a Friend

On June 17, 1800, Scarpia, who is the head of the secret police, is busy putting people who support the republic in prison. One of these republicans, named Angelotti, manages to escape from jail. He finds a hiding spot inside the church of Sant' Andrea della Valle. Angelotti used to be an important leader in the old republican government.

Inside the church, Angelotti meets Cavaradossi, who is an artist and also a republican. Cavaradossi quickly helps Angelotti hide in a secret part of the church.

Later, Scarpia arrives at the church, searching for Angelotti. He doesn't find Angelotti, but he meets a famous singer named Tosca. Tosca is also Cavaradossi's girlfriend. Scarpia is a very cunning man. He tricks Tosca into thinking Cavaradossi is doing something wrong. He then has his soldiers follow Tosca when she leaves, hoping she will lead them to Cavaradossi and Angelotti.

Act 2: A Difficult Choice

Scarpia learns that his soldiers couldn't find Angelotti, but they did arrest Cavaradossi. Scarpia then tries to force Cavaradossi to tell him where Angelotti is hiding. Cavaradossi is brave and refuses to say anything. So, Scarpia calls Tosca into the room. He shows her that Cavaradossi is being harmed to make him talk.

Seeing her love in pain, Tosca finally tells Scarpia the secret hiding place where Angelotti is.

Just then, a message arrives saying that Napoleon has won the Battle of Marengo. Cavaradossi is very happy because this means a new republican government might take over. Scarpia is furious about the news and orders Cavaradossi to be put to death.

Tosca begs Scarpia to save Cavaradossi's life. Scarpia tells Tosca that he will save Cavaradossi if she agrees to be with him. As Scarpia moves closer to Tosca, she quickly grabs a knife from a nearby table and stabs him, killing him.

Act 3: The Tragic End

Tosca rushes to Cavaradossi, who is being held in the prison at the castle Sant'Angelo. She tells him that Scarpia is dead and that he will be set free. However, Scarpia had tricked her. The firing squad shoots Cavaradossi, and he dies.

When Scarpia’s soldiers arrive to arrest Tosca for killing Scarpia, she has no hope left. She takes her own life by jumping from the castle walls.

Main Characters

Floria Tosca - a singer, played by a soprano (a high female voice)
Mario Cavaradossi - an artist, played by a tenor (a high male voice)
Baron Scarpia - the chief of police, played by a baritone (a middle-range male voice)
Cesare Angelotti - a former leader, played by a bass (a low male voice)
Sacristan - a church official, played by a bass
Spoletta - a police agent, played by a tenor

Images for kids

1899 poster for Tosca
Punch cartoon showing the end of Sardou's La Tosca, 1888
The Te Deum scene which concludes act 1; Scarpia stands at left. Photograph of a pre-1914 production at the old Metropolitan Opera House, New York
Tosca reverently lays a crucifix on Scarpia's body. Photograph of a pre-1914 production at the old Metropolitan Opera House, New York
The Castel Sant'Angelo, (right), scene of the Tosca ending, as painted in the 18th century
Front cover of the original 1899 libretto
Enrico Caruso as Cavaradossi. He sang this role many times.
Antonio Scotti, an early famous performer of the role of Scarpia
Roberto Alagna as Cavaradossi, Royal Opera House, 2014
The setting for Robert Dornhelm's production of Tosca at the Opera Festival of St. Margarethen, 2015
Emmy Destinn in the role of Tosca, around 1910
Mario Cavaradossi (based on tenor Giancarlo Monsalve) singing "E lucevan le stelle" in a painting by Riccardo Manci

Tosca facts for kids

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