Welcome students and teachers to Opera Online! This week we will take a look at Giacomo Puccini's Tosca presented by the Opera Company of Philadelphia. We will look at scenes from Act I, discuss the on going celebration of Italy's 150th anniversary of unification, and take a look at upcoming opera events.
Video Clips of the Week:
This week we will look at the love triangle between Floria Tosca, Mario Cavaradossi, and Baron Scarpia.
The first clip is the Act I love duet between Tosca and Cavaradossi (student booklet pg 19, 1st column, Cav.-"But now you must let me work" to pg 20, 2nd column, Tos.- "She is so good! But let her eyes be black ones!"). Unknown to Tosca, she has interrupted a surprise meeting between Cavaradossi and the political prisoner Angelotti. Tosca interprets the whispering she hears as a meeting between Cavaradossi and an unknown lover. The scene begins with Cavaradossi asking Tosca to leave so he can return to his work. Tosca's jealousy rears its ugly head when she recognizes the woman who has been the inspiration for Cavaradossi's painting of Mary Magdalene, the Marchessa Attavanti. Cavaradossi cools Tosca's jealousy by swearing that he will always love his Tosca. Finally, Tosca is calmed. But not without the last request to make Mary Magdalene's eyes black like hers.
Video Clips of the Week:
This week we will look at the love triangle between Floria Tosca, Mario Cavaradossi, and Baron Scarpia.
The first clip is the Act I love duet between Tosca and Cavaradossi (student booklet pg 19, 1st column, Cav.-"But now you must let me work" to pg 20, 2nd column, Tos.- "She is so good! But let her eyes be black ones!"). Unknown to Tosca, she has interrupted a surprise meeting between Cavaradossi and the political prisoner Angelotti. Tosca interprets the whispering she hears as a meeting between Cavaradossi and an unknown lover. The scene begins with Cavaradossi asking Tosca to leave so he can return to his work. Tosca's jealousy rears its ugly head when she recognizes the woman who has been the inspiration for Cavaradossi's painting of Mary Magdalene, the Marchessa Attavanti. Cavaradossi cools Tosca's jealousy by swearing that he will always love his Tosca. Finally, Tosca is calmed. But not without the last request to make Mary Magdalene's eyes black like hers.
The second clip is of the Finale of Act I, the Te Deum (student booklet, pg 24, Track 2 section). Scarpia has a classic villian moment and reveals his plans to kill Cavaradossi and have Tosca for himself. This video was part of a 1992 real-time production. A real-time production involves the opera being performed at the exact sites of the opera and at the approximate times the events took place. Since the Battle of Marengo took place on the same day that Tosca takes place, the times of the Acts have been estimated by the amount of time it took to ride from the battle site to Rome. In this clip, the Te Deum is being sung in the actual Church of Sant'Andrea della Valle during the noon mass.
Act I duet, Jose Carreras and Montserrat Caballe (1980, French subtitles)
Website of the Week:
Tosca takes place at a very important time in Italy's history. In the year 1800, Italy was not a unified nation. Rome was under the power of the Austrians and the French, lead by Napoleon, were fighting to gain control. To Cavaradossi the French represented freedom and democracy while the Austrians represented established tyranny. The Battle of Marengo, which occurs during the story of Tosca was a pivotal battle for the French. For many Romans like Cavaradossi, the Battle of Marengo mark the first step towards unification. However, the fight for a unified Italy lasted until March 17th, 1861. Last Friday marked the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. Check out the General Italian Consulate website in Philadelphia to see events happening in the Philadelphia area celebrating this anniversary.
Tosca takes place at a very important time in Italy's history. In the year 1800, Italy was not a unified nation. Rome was under the power of the Austrians and the French, lead by Napoleon, were fighting to gain control. To Cavaradossi the French represented freedom and democracy while the Austrians represented established tyranny. The Battle of Marengo, which occurs during the story of Tosca was a pivotal battle for the French. For many Romans like Cavaradossi, the Battle of Marengo mark the first step towards unification. However, the fight for a unified Italy lasted until March 17th, 1861. Last Friday marked the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. Check out the General Italian Consulate website in Philadelphia to see events happening in the Philadelphia area celebrating this anniversary.
Join us for a Taste of Opera!
If you want to learn more about Puccini's Tosca and his other operas, join us for a Taste of Opera! Taste of Opera will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from 2:00-3:00pm as part of the PAFA Presents series. Join our education director, Michael Bolton, as he explores Puccini's classic arias for tenors. PAFA is located at Broad and Cherry Streets in Philadelphia and after the event you can explore the PAFA's art galleries for free!
Opera on the Air:
On Saturday, March 26 at 1 PM radio station WRTI will be broadcasting The Metropolitan Opera production of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades (sung in Russian). Fate and obsession are key themes in The Queen of Spades as Herman, an impoverished army officer with a weakness for gambling, learns that a Countess nicknamed the "Queen of Spades" knows the secret of infallible victory at the card table. Herman has fallen in love with the Countess' granddaughter Lisa, who is already engaged to Prince Yeletsky, and believes that winning a fortune will secure Lisa for himself. Though the Countess shared the secret twice years before, she has since been warned in a dream that revealing the secret a third time will bring her death. Herman grows increasingly obsessed with forcing the secret from her, to such an extent that it can lead only to madness and tragedy. The performance is conducted by Andris Nelsons with soprano Karita Mattila as Lisa, mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick as the Countess, tenor Vladimir Galouzine as Hermann, and baritone Alexey Markov as Count Tomsky.
Until next week!!
Comments
NO. He relates many problems to church. But, many of the ways he relates to it, he doesn't really say those things in the right context.
Sacristan: Heaven Help us!
Scarpia: He may still be here. Where is the chapel of the Attavanti?
I think that Scarpia is not highly religious. Although he acts like it, he is just trying to fix the problems at church. In addition, others say he exploits the uses of religion, meaning he is using it as a benefit.
CAVARDOSSI
Scarpia? Tha licentious bigot who exploits the uses of religion as refinements for his libertine lust, and makes both the confessor and the hangman the servant of his wantonness!
I think that Scarpia is not truly religious. Although he may act like it, others say he uses religion as a benefit.
CAVARADOSSI
Scarpia? That licentiious bigot who exploits religion as refinements for his libertine lust, and makes bothe the confessor and the hangman the servant of his wantonness!
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I would have told Tosca about Angelotti, because if Tosca trully loved Cavaradossi then she would have understood that keeping Angelotti safe was important to him. I am sure if a person is that jealous, then they would love him enough to break the law. Anyway, it would be much easier to keep Angelotti safe with more help, he could use Tosca's house to store Angelotti.
I would have turned Angelotti because if i won't, then I could get severely punished for my actions. There might be death.
YES. He remarks on the church and uses the holy water with Tosca.
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Scarpia: Such a hubbub in church! A fine respect!
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Scarpia: ...Not out of idle gallantry but to offer Holy Water.
Tosca: (...crossing herself) Thank you, sir!
Because he thinks that Tosca is a jealous woman.
The consequences of not trusting Tosca is that she thinks he is seeing another woman...and Scarpia uses this to get her to find Cavardossi.
Max AWW#33 April 12, 2011
The first act of this opera was very interesting. Angelotti had recently escaped from Scarpia's prison and headed for the chapel. He meets his friend Cavaradossi. Soon after escaping from prison, Angelotti becomes a fugitive of the law. Angelotti and Cavaradossi flee together. Tasca, Cavaradossi's girlfriend, believes Cavaradossi is a criminal because he ran away with Angelotti. She then plots revenge on Cavaradossi.
Angelotti, a male prisoner, escapes from jail. Tosca's suspicions and jealousy are so great, she thinks she hears the rustling of a dress and a woman's voice. As she would have been behind a very heavy wooden door and some distance away from Cavardossi, most of these noises were in her head and not real! Jealousy can make some people do drastic things, and even hear things that aren't there!
I think Cavaradossi doesn't tell Tosca about Angelotti because it might make Tosca mad, jealous, and upset, and Cavaradossi is Tosca's beloved. The consequences about not trusting Tosca are getting a bad reputation, it will feel like he's not being honest all the time, and it will make people not trust him.
He is religious but probably does not want to be. He seems like a mean and stealing person and but he would not spend so much time in the chapel trying to find a hidden clue if he was not religious.
I think that Scarpia is not a very religious man because in Act 1 he tricks Tosca into thinking that Cavaradossi had betrayed her by pretending that he had come to pray and then flattering her and finally telling her that Cavaradossi had betrayed her.
Scarpia: Divine Tosca, my hand awaits your delicate hand. Not out of idle gallantry but to offer you holy water
Tosca: Thank you sir!
Scarpia: It is a noble example that you give Tosca: filled with holy zeal, you draw from Heaven the mastery of art to revive the faith of men.
Yes. I think this way because Scaripa drinks from the holy water.
Cavaradossi choose to become involved in hiding Angelotti because he was political allies with Angelotti. He didn't turn Angelotti in because he was friends with Angelotti.
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Nope, I don't. I'm pretty sure that if he was religious, he would try to prevent himself from being greedy, envious, and he would not try to steal someones wife. But then again, when Tosca is cursing Attavanti in church, Scarpia disaproves and says "In Church!", thus marking his disaproval.
I believe that Scarpia thinks that there is some kind of divine power, but doesn't truly act religious. He never seems to truly act like he believes in God or heaven. When he tricks Tosca and she become distressed, "I shall fall upon them tonight! You will not have him I swear!" He mockingly adds "in the church!" when she swears. I think he uses the church to dominate people, and to use it as a tool.
I am not quite sure because he seems to be focused on other subjects mostly in this act ("Scarpia: And you search every corner, track down every clue) he is mostly focused on catching Cavaradossi and Angelotti, and he is also focused on Tosca (Scarpia: ...For him, the rope, and for her, my arms)
I wouldnt have turned Angelotti in. If this was my very good old friend, and I knew that they were a good person, I'd never turn them in.
A: I think he is kind of religious. For example, the play says "Scarpia kneels and prays as the cardinal passes." But at other points it seems like he is just trying to help the church, but not believe in it.
I probably would have helped Angelotti to get away faster, and I would have told Tosca about Angelotti. Tosca probably could have helped to get him out faster, and that would have been very helpful.
Do you believe that Scarpia is truly religious? Why or why not (Use evidence from the play to support your reasoning.)?
Scarpia is not a religious person, but he certainly is good at pretending to be one. He gives Tosca compliments about her singing and how it makes people believe in God (“You draw from heaven the mastery of art to revive the hope of men.”). In reality he wants her to be jealous about her boyfriend having a new girlfriend instead of herself, so that she will give away information about his whereabouts. In truth Scarpia does not care about Tosca’s singing increasing the faith of men, but he wants to be her boyfriend (“Tosca, you make me forget God.”)
Why did Cavaradossi become involved in hiding Angelotti? Why didn't he turn Angelotti in?
I think that Cavaradossi didn't turn Angelotti in because they seem to be allies, or friends, or at least acquaintences from a group that is trying to acheive something that rebels against the government. I think this becuase Angelotti was in prison, and government rebels sometimes go to prison, and that Cavaradosi probably wouldn't be helping Angelotti if he was just some criminal that Cavaradosi happened to know. Also, they seem to need to keep everything of utmost secrecy, which is usually what people undercover do, they hide. If my assumption is correct, turning Angelotti in would result in corrupting the entire project, because the entire organization would be found out and discovered.
2. What would you have done in Cavaradossi’s shoes? Why? I would have not turn him in because it's the right thing to do.
3. Why doesn’t Cavaradossi tell Tosca about Angelotti? What are the consequences of not trusting Tosca?He is afraid she might tell someone. If he trusted Tosca he will not have gotten caught.
4. Do you believe that Scarpia is truly religious? Why or why not (Use evidence from the play to support your reasoning.)? I don't think he is religious because at the End of Act 1 he says Tosca make him forget god.
5. Give an example of a person or people who use religion to accomplish their own goals. Evaluate their actions as a positive or negative outcome for society and explain why she/he/they deserve your evaluation. The sacristan. he has a negative outcome because he tells Scapria about the painter.
I think that Cavaradossi chose not to tell Tosca about Angelotti because Tosca might try to tell the police and save Cavaradossi. The consequences are that Cavaradossi is killed and Tosca kills herself.
He dosn't tell tosca because he knows she will tell everyone. He didn't trust Tosca so she was curious and found out herself.
I think Cavaradossi did not tell Tosca about Angelotti because Tosca might tell the police. The consequences are that Cavaradossi will be killed. Then Tosca might be ashamed because he risked his life so she would kill herself.
Because he was an old friend of Angelotti's. They also had the same political beliefs and were anarchists
He (Cavaradossi) chose to hide Angelotti because he is a friend and political ally of Angelotti
I think that Cavaradossi didn't tell Tosca about Angelotti because he didn't trust her to keep a secret if she is jealous or being questioned, and I beleive that this causes her to act against his will.
As soon as Cavaradossi saw Angelotti, he ran to him and embraced him. I realized then, that they were old friends and Cavaradossi new that Angelotti was innocent so he did not turn him in and instead helped him hide.
Cavaradossi became involved in Angelotti since you can already tell that they have a friendship, and friends help each other, so this is just an example of great friendship
As soon as Cavaradossi saw Angelotti he embraced him. I realized then, that they were old friends. Cavaradossi new that what ever Angelotti did, he was inocent and there fore did not turn him in but instead helped him hide from the police.
No it's not an ethical practice, I understand that in certain times there's a loop hole, but it shouldn't practiced due to almost all cultures and religions say to be nice and NOT whack some guy with a stick till he say something.
In Cavaradossi's shoes, I would have helped Angelotti even though my life would be at risk. I would do this in order to save a friend who is in trouble.
I would have told Tosca the truth, then she would understand better and I could fill her in on all the details earlier. Because the earlier the better.
I probably would have helped Angelotti (by giving him new clothes, food,money,etc.)but then I would have sent him far away so that everyone would be safe. That way, I really wouldn't know where he was and neither would Scarpia. :)
I think that Cavaradossi does not tell Tosca about Angelotti because she might turn Angelotti in or try to control Cavaradossi. When he didn't tell Tosca she became jealous, thinking there was another woman, he also didn't have her as an ally because she did not know.
No, I think he's acting religious because Tosca is pious. like when he offers the holy water to tosca.
I think that this opera compared to Greek tragedy is fairly the same because in either one their is a lot of drama, killing, and dramatic scenes.
Yes it was very foolish since Scarpia is a dark man and all he wants is for Angelotti and all who helped he escape to die and to love Tosca.
Those "special" bullets could be piercing rounds or something worse.
I would of done my best to help hide Angelotti because you should help your friends the best you can.
Angelotti, the character that escapes from jail is a man. His sister had brought him women's clothing to disguise himself in so no one would recognize him. Tosca says she thinks she hear a woman's voice because she hears Cavaradossi whispering and, in her jealousy, assumes he is speaking with a woman.
I would not have turned one of my friends in. I would have came up with a lie so he would not get in trouble. i would do that so i could show that i care and that i am a good person.
I would have done the same thing Cavaradossi did assuming Angelotti was not put in jail for a fair reason. If I had a friend in jail, I would have done all I could to help him, even if I thought what he did was bad because a man should not be judged by only his actions.
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Cavaradossi didn't tell Tosca because he was afraid she would blab and because he says she is a jealous woman. The consequences are that she will not be able to help,and she will become even more jealous which might bring Scarpia to Angelotti.
He chose to become involved in hiding Angelotti because Angelotti was his friend.
Art: Literary
Intro: Tosca, a awe-inspiring opera, is a romantic Greek tragedy about the gifts and curses of love.
Setting: In act 1, the setting was a church with a Madonna and stairs leading up to a painting studio. In act 2, the setting in Scarpia’s house with a door leading into the torture chamber. In act 3, the jail, the execution place, and a high building where Tosca suicides.
Characters: Floria Tosca, played by Adina Nitescu, is a jealous woman in mad love with Mario Cavaradossi, played by Thiago Arancam, a brave fearless man in a relationship with Tosca. Scarpia, played by Boris Statsenko, is an evil man who abuses Tosca and who kills Cavaradossi. Scarpia’s two companions are Spoletta, played by Christopher Tiesi, and Sciarrone, played by Brandon Cedal. Angelotti, played by Daniel Mobbs, is a criminal who escaped from Castel Sant’Angelo who is aided by Tosca and Cavaradossi. Sacristan, played by Kevin Glavin, is a church priest who is suspicious about Cavaradossi and the man he is aiding, Angelotti.
Plot: Act 1: Angelotti escapes from prison and steals a key from the Madonna. Cavaradossi paints a picture of Tosca while Sacristan prays. Cavaradossi helps Angelotti escape from prison. Tosca gets jealous of Cavaradossi painting another woman. Scarpia interrogates Sacristan to find Angelotti and Cavaradossi. Scarpia makes Tosca believe that Cavaradossi is having an affair with Attavanti, Angelotti’s sister.
Act 2: Spoletta fails to find Angelotti because he commits suicide. Scarpia accuses Cavaradossi of aiding Angelotti. Scarpia tortures Cavaradossi and interrogates and abuses Tosca to find information about Angelotti. Tosca tells Scarpia where Angelotti is. Scarpia tries to fake Cavaradossi’s death as mercy to Tosca but Scarpia tricks her. Tosca stabs Scarpia.
Act 3: The mock execution goes wrong and Cavaradossi dies of the gunshots. Tosca commits suicide in despair.
Conflict: Scarpia accuses Tosca and Cavaradossi of aiding Angelotti and Scarpia kills and tortures Cavaradossi and abuses Tosca and at the end, Tosca suicides in despair after her loved one died.
Theme: Love is either your brightest future, or your darkest nightmare.
David Mei