00000cja a22000003a 4500 UP-8027390931313882592 Buklod 20130402085837.0 m |o d | ta 130402s1985 xx d|||||||||||||| | (iLib)UPVIS-00027692840 ess 3.2.13 eng CD-1107 Puccini, Giacomo Tosca opera in three acts [motion picture] Giacomo Puccini. Hollywood, California Bel Canto Paramount Home Video c1985 1 disc ( ) digital 4 3/4in This stage production of Tosca was made possible by a gift from Mrs. Donald D. Harrington. The original telecast was made possible by a major grant from The Philantropic Foundation, Inc. additional grant from the National Endownment for the Arts, the Pioneer Electronic Corporation and the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation. Executive Producer, Michael Bronson; Producer, Samuel J. Paul; Director, Kirk Browning; Associate Producer, Karen Adler; Audio Director, Jay David Saks Angelotti, James Courtney; Sacristan, Italo Tajo; Cavaradossi, Placido Domingo; Tosca, Hildegard Behrens; Scarpia, Cornell MacNiel; Spoletta, Anthony Laciura; Sciarrone, Russell Christopher; Shepherd, Melissa Fogarty; Jailer, Richard Vernon Act I. Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, rushes into the church of Saint Andrea de la Valle to hie in the Attavanti Chapel. As he vanishes, an old Sacristan shuffles in (E sempre lava!), stopping to pray at the sound of the Angelus. Mario Cabaradossi enters to work on his painting of mary Magdalene - inspired by the Marchesa Attavani (Angelotti's sister), whom he has seen at prayer but does not know. Taking out a miniature of the singer Floria Tosca, he compares her raven hair to that of the blonde Magdalene (Recondita Armonia). Grumbling his disapproval, the Sacristan leaves. Venturing out, AQngelotti is recognized by his friendand fellow liberal Mario, who gives him food and hurries him back into the chapelas Tosca is heard calling outside (Mario! Son qui! Perche chiuso?) Forever suspicious, she jealously questions mario, then prays and reminds him of their rendezvous that evening in his villa (Non la sospiri la nostra casetta). Just when Marion thinks he has persuaded her to leave him alone, Tosca suddenly recognizes in the painting the likeness of the Marchesa Attavani. She expoldes with renewed suspicion, but he reassures her. When she gone, Mario summons Angelotti from the chapel; after the cannon signals that the police have discovered the escape, the two flee to Mario's villa. The Sacristan returns, withchoirboys who are to sing in a te Deum in celebration of the reported defeat of napoleon by General Melas. Their excitement is silenced by thye entrance of bron Scarpia, chief of the secret police, in search of Angelotti. When Tosca comes back looking for her lover (Tosca? Che non mi veda), Scarpia shows her a fan with the Attavani crest, which he was just found in the chapel. Thingking mario faithles, Tosca tearfully vows vengeance and leaves as the church fills with worshipers. Scarp[ia, sending his agents after her in the hope that she will lead them to Angtelotti's hiding place (Tre shirri, una carroza). schemes to get the diva in his power, as the Te Deum begins in the background. Act II. In his room in the Farnese palace, Scarpia sadistically anticipates the pleasure of bending Tosca to his will (Tosca e un buon falco). The spy Spoletta arrives: Tosca had led him to mario's villa, but he could not find Angelotti there: placate the baron, he brings in mario, who is interrogated while Tosca is heard singing a cantata at a royal gala downstairs. The questioning grows fiercer, and Tosca enters just as her lover as being taken into another room; his arrogant silence is to be broken under torture. Unnerved by Scarpia's questioning and the sound of Mario's screams, she eventually reveals Angelotti's hiding place, in a secret chamber down the vill's well. Mario is carried in; when he realizes what has happened, he turns on Tosca, but the officer Sciarrone rushes in to announce that Napoleon, not Mela's has actually won the battle at Marengo, a defeat for Scarpia and the royalist party. Mario shouts his defiance of tyranny (Victoria! Vistoria!) and is dragged off the prison. Resuming his supper, Scarpia suggest that Tosca yield herself to him in exchange for her lover's wife (Salvatelo). Fighting off his embraces, she protest to God that, having dedicated her life to love and art, she does not deserve such a afet (Vissi d'arte). Scarpia again insist, but Spoletta interrupts to reports that, facedwith capture, Angelotti has killed himself. With Cavaradossi's execution now inevitable, Tosca agrees to Scarpia's proposition. The police chief pretends to order a mock execution for the prisoner, after which he is to be freed; Spoletta leaves. No sooner has Scarpia written a safe-conduct for the lovers (E qual via scegliete?) than Tosca snatches a knife from the table and kills him. Wrenching the document from his stiffening fingers and palcing candles at his head and a crucifix on his chest, she slips from the room. Act III. The orchestral prelude depicts a starlight night. The voice of a shephered boy is heard (lo de'sospiri), a church bells toll the dawn. Mario is imprisoned in the Castel Sant' Angelo awaiting execution; he bribes the jailer to convey a farewell message to Tosca. Writing it, overcome with memories of love, he gives way to despair (E lucevan le stelle). Suddenly Tosca runs in (Eb! Franchiga a Floria Tosca), filled with the story of her recent adventures. Mario caresses the hands that committed murder for his sake (O dolci mani), and the two hail their future. As the firing squad appears (L'ora! Son pronto), the diva coaches Marion on how to fake his death convincing; the soldiers fire and depart. Tosca urges Mario to hurry (Presto, su! Mario! Mario!), but when he fails to move, she discovers that Scarpia's treachery has reached beyond the grave: the bullets were real. When Spoletta rushes inh to arrest from the parapet of the castle. This presentation is subtitled in English and was taped during the march 20 and 27, 1985 performances at the Metropolitan Opera. Orchestra music. Sardou, Victoria. Illica, Luigi. Giacosa, Giuseppe. The Metropolitan Opera. UPVIS UPV-ML CD-1107 Music