These are turbulent times in Rome.

A newly-founded free republic, which had overthrown the aristocracy’s supremacy, has been dissolved – once again the royalists have prevailed. Queen Maria-Carolina now rules Rome, allowing her chief of police to mercilessly arrest and execute her opponents, often without a trial.

The famed opera singer Floria Tosca’s lover Mario Cavaradossi, a painter, is among the opponents.

A few hours later, we find Scarpia in his quarters at the Palazzo Farnese, where Tosca will celebrate the victory over Napoleon with a cantata. Bad news awaits him: his agent Spoletta has followed Tosca to the villa, but he has only found Cavaradossi. Cavaradossi is taken into custody on suspicion of helping the fugitive escape, but denies the allegations made against him. When Tosca arrives after her performance at Scarpia’s request, Scarpia orders Cavaradossi to be interrogated. Tosca realises that Cavaradossi is about to be forced to testify under torture. Scarpia makes it clear to Tosca that she can shorten his torture by co-operating. Though she tries to resist, she can’t withstand listening to Cavaradossi’s cries of pain and tells Scarpia about the hiding place. Scarpia immediately halts the torture, and with relish he orders the arrest of Angelotti in front of the two lovers. Cavaradossi realises that Tosca has betrayed him and curses her.

At the same time, Scarpia receives bad news from his valet Sciarrone: the victory over Napoleon was a false report and the royal army has been beaten. Cavaradossi strikes up a revolutionary song and insults Scarpia, calling him a tyrant and a murderer. With this, he seals his death sentence and Scarpia orders him to be taken away. Tosca remains, knowing that only she can save her lover’s life. The wealthy singer attempts to negotiate a ransom, but Scarpia makes it clear that he is not interested in money – his price is Tosca herself. Impudent and desperate in his greed, Scarpia tries to seize her. Finally, Tosca accepts the deal. Scarpia then orders Spoletta to perform a fake execution of Cavaradossi the next morning. Tosca wants to hand the execution order to Cavaradossi herself and explain the situation to him, as well as be present at the execution. She also forces Scarpia to sign a letter of safe conduct for her and Cavaradossi, so they can leave the area the next day. Once she is alone with Scarpia, she stabs him with a knife as he embraces her, grabs the letter and leaves the room.

Interval of 20 minutes

A few hours later, we find Scarpia in his quarters at the Palazzo Farnese, where Tosca will celebrate the victory over Napoleon with a cantata. Bad news awaits him: his agent Spoletta has followed Tosca to the villa, but he has only found Cavaradossi. Cavaradossi is taken into custody on suspicion of helping the fugitive escape, but denies the allegations made against him. When Tosca arrives after her performance at Scarpia’s request, Scarpia orders Cavaradossi to be interrogated. Tosca realises that Cavaradossi is about to be forced to testify under torture. Scarpia makes it clear to Tosca that she can shorten his torture by co-operating. Though she tries to resist, she can’t withstand listening to Cavaradossi’s cries of pain and tells Scarpia about the hiding place. Scarpia immediately halts the torture, and with relish he orders the arrest of Angelotti in front of the two lovers. Cavaradossi realises that Tosca has betrayed him and curses her.

At the same time, Scarpia receives bad news from his valet Sciarrone: the victory over Napoleon was a false report and the royal army has been beaten. Cavaradossi strikes up a revolutionary song and insults Scarpia, calling him a tyrant and a murderer. With this, he seals his death sentence and Scarpia orders him to be taken away. Tosca remains, knowing that only she can save her lover’s life. The wealthy singer attempts to negotiate a ransom, but Scarpia makes it clear that he is not interested in money – his price is Tosca herself. Impudent and desperate in his greed, Scarpia tries to seize her. Finally, Tosca accepts the deal. Scarpia then orders Spoletta to perform a fake execution of Cavaradossi the next morning. Tosca wants to hand the execution order to Cavaradossi herself and explain the situation to him, as well as be present at the execution. She also forces Scarpia to sign a letter of safe conduct for her and Cavaradossi, so they can leave the area the next day. Once she is alone with Scarpia, she stabs him with a knife as he embraces her, grabs the letter and leaves the room.

Interval of 20 minutes

Cavaradossi is awaiting his execution. He listens to the sounds of the awakening Rome, and memories and dreams stir within him. Then the bitter reality of observing the signing of his execution order hits him. He regrets cursing Tosca and writes her a farewell letter. As he begins to slip into another daydream, he is startled by Tosca standing in front of him with the pass to freedom, signed by Scarpia himself. Still shaken by the past few hours, she describes the murder of Scarpia to her lover. Now she only dreams of one thing: a future in freedom, united with her lover far away in another country.

Like a director, she explains the fake execution to Cavaradossi, in which he must play along like an actor in a drama. The curtain rises to this melodrama staged by Tosca – but she realises too late that her dream was nothing but a dream. The execution is not fake, the blood is real, and Cavaradossi is dead. Scarpia has betrayed her. Tosca jumps to her death from atop Castel Sant’Angelo.