Acts 2 and 3 of the Opera by Puccini from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The action takes place in Rome, June, 1800
Act 2: Scarpia's Room in the Farnese Palace
Characters in order of appearance
Baron Scarpia Sciarrone
Spoletta
Maria Cavaradossi
Floria Tosca
Shepherd Boy Gaoler
Choir-Soldiers
The cast includes
Beniamino Gigli, Luigi Rossi Morelli, Aristide Baracchi, Octave Dua, Booth Hitchin

Conductor, Vittorio Gui
Chorus Master, Robert Ainsworth
Producer, Charles Moor

The grimly tragic story of Tosca, founded on Sardou's drama, is one of Rome in the days of the first Napoleonic Wars. Cavaradossi, an artist in love with Tosca, a celebrated singer, has befriended Angelotti, a revolutionary, and has got into the toils of Scarpia, Chief of Police.

In Act 2 Cavaradossi, who has been captured, is brought into Scarpia's dining-room for cross-examination, but as he denies everything he is taken to the adjacent torture-chamber. Upon her arrival Tosca, too, remains adamant to all Scarpia's questions until, hearing Cavaradossi's cries, she reveals Angelotti's hiding-place. Having gained his point, Scarpia tells her that as her lover is an accomplice he must be shot. He offers Tosca the alternative of his instant death or her own dishonour. She decides on the latter, but he must write a pass enabling Cavaradossi and herself to leave the country. Scarpia orders a mock execution and writes out the pass. As he approaches to embrace her, Tosca stabs him. Taking the passport from his hands, she hastens to the prison.