Tosca
Passion, blood and betrayal in Puccini's tragic thriller.
Performance Dates
Rome trembles under Scarpia’s iron fist. Only the diva Tosca dares defy him – but in a corrupt world, love is no match for power. This high-stakes love story, with its sweepingly romantic score, is staged at Glyndebourne for the first time.
The opening cast includes Caitlin Gotimer as Floria Tosca, Matteo Lippi as Mario Cavaradossi and Vladislav Sulimsky as Baron Scarpia, with Robin Ticciati conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
The second cast will be conducted by Canadian Jordan de Souza and will feature Atalla Ayan as Mario Cavaradossi and Alfred Walker as Baron Scarpia with Caitlin Gotimer returning as Floria Tosca. See full cast and creative team details here.
To find out more about Tosca including key plot points, popular arias and moments to look out for: read our Introducing Tosca blog.
Sung in Italian with English supertitles.
Related links
Photos by Richard Hubert Smith. View the full photo gallery here.
Synopsis
ACT I
A church in Rome
Cesare Angelotti, former Roman consul and now political prisoner, bursts into the empty sanctuary. On the run, he desperately searches for the key his sister has hidden, and conceals himself in the family chapel. Unaware of the concealed figure, a sacristan tidies the church, and painter Mario Cavaradossi continues work on his painting of Mary Magdalene, who bears a striking resemblance to a beautiful woman who regularly visits the church…
With the sacristan gone, Angelotti reveals himself, throwing himself on the painter’s mercy. Cavaradossi promises help, but when his lover – the celebrated singer Floria Tosca – arrives, he urges Angelotti to hide again. Ever jealous, Tosca suspects Cavaradossi of concealing another woman. Her suspicions only intensify when she notices the painting. Cavaradossi reassures her of his love and – mollified – she departs. A cannon is heard; Angelotti’s escape has been discovered. Cavaradossi instructs Angelotti to hide in the painter’s own villa, and they leave together.
Baron Scarpia, Rome’s Chief of Police, enters the church, searching for Angelotti. When he finds a fan printed with the prisoner’s family crest he quickly fills in the blanks. Using his discovery to fuel Tosca’s jealousy, he instructs his men to follow her, knowing that she will lead his men straight to their quarry. The church fills as choristers, clergy and parishioners gather for service. A Te Deum is heard, but Scarpia intones his own credo: to destroy all who oppose him and bend the beautiful Tosca to his will.
Synopsis
ACT II
Rooms in the Palazzo Farnese
Evening has fallen. Scarpia entertains his guests. Earlier his men searched Cavaradossi’s villa; they didn’t find Angelotti, but arrested the painter, who now defies Scarpia’s interrogation. Scarpia summons Tosca. Cavaradossi urges her silence, but hearing her lover’s torture she reveals Angelotti’s hiding place. Cavaradossi remains defiant, determined to oppose tyranny – whatever the cost. Scarpia orders his execution.
Left alone with Tosca, Scarpia’s line of attack changes: if Tosca will give herself to him, Scarpia will free her lover. Tosca is appalled, faced with an impossible choice. Desperate, she agrees, negotiating the conditions of Cavaradossi’s release following his now mock-execution, and the lovers’ subsequent escape from Rome. Scarpia signs a letter of safe-conduct, before forcing himself on Tosca. Seizing a knife, she stabs him. Taking the safe-conduct pass she leaves the Palazzo.
Synopsis
ACT III
A field next to the Castel Sant’Angelo
Cavaradossi awaits the dawn and his imminent execution. Bribing a jailer for pen and paper, he writes Tosca a letter of farewell. Tosca suddenly appears and quickly explains all that has passed. They indulge a fantasy of freedom and a future together, before the guards arrive for the execution. Tosca tells Cavaradossi that he must fake his death convincingly, falling down after shots are fired – ‘like Tosca on the stage’. But when she approaches after the execution she realises that this has been no pantomime: Scarpia deceived her, and Cavaradossi is dead. Guards approach to arrest her, but rather than submit to capture she runs to her death.
Advisory information about Tosca
The story of Tosca involves sexual assault, murder, torture, execution and suicide. Much of this is seen on stage.
Noise Warning
There are cannon sound effects in Act 1 and gunshots throughout Act 3. There are loud bells and sound effects in both Act 1 and 3.
Performance timings
Timings are subject to change.
For further information about your visit please visit our how to get here page.
3, 6, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22 June
First bell: 5.20pm
Opera starts: 5.30pm
Interval (20 mins): 6.15pm
Opera resumes: 6.35pm
Interval (90 mins): 7.15pm
Opera resumes: 8.45pm
Opera ends: 9.15pm
4,7, 10, 13, 15, 18, 20, 24, 27, 30 August
Grounds open: 2.00pm
First bell: 3.50pm
Opera starts: 4.00pm
Interval (20 mins): 4.45pm
Opera resumes: 5.05pm
Interval (90 mins): 5.45pm
Opera resumes: 7.15pm
Opera ends: 7.45pm
Creative team
Conductor
Robin Ticciati (21 May – 22 June)
Jordan de Souza (4 – 30 August)
Director
Ted Huffman
Set Designer
Nadja Sofie Eller
Costume Designer
Astrid Klein
Lighting Designer
D M Wood
Fight Directors
Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper Brown of Rc-Annie
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Leader Pieter Schoeman
The Glyndebourne Chorus
Chorus Director Aidan Oliver
Children’s Chorus Master
Nicholas Mulroy
Cast includes
Cesare Angelotti
Kristian Lindroos
Sacristan
Federico De Michelis
Mario Cavaradossi
Matteo Lippi (21 May – 22 June)
Atalla Ayan (4 – 30 August)
Floria Tosca
Caitlin Gotimer
Baron Scarpia
Vladislav Sulimsky (21 May – 22 June)
Alfred Walker (4 – 30 August)
Spoletta
Didier Pieri
Sciarrone
Michael Ronan
Shepherd Boy
Rufus Green+
Ben Wright‡
Jailer
Mikayel Sargsyan*
Actors
Jake Barton
Ianthe Bathurst
Larissa LongSee
Pip Marsh
Samuel Morgan-Freeman
Darryl Mundoma
*Soloist from The Glyndebourne Chorus
+ Glyndebourne Youth Opera
‡ Trinity Boys Choir
To find out more about production support for Festival 2026 here
or contact our Director of Development, Helen McCarthy for an informal chat:
call 01273 815032 or email helen.mccarthy@glyndebourne.com
Main image: D-Keine/Getty Images. Image design by Louise Richardson
