Tosca: opera completa per canto e pianoforte

More about the book

Puccini's opera "Tosca" is based on a play by Victorien Sardou, which the composer saw in Milan with the renowned actress Sarah Bernhardt. The story is partially rooted in historical events during the time of Napoleon, revolving around the tragedy of the famous singer Floria Tosca. After considerable effort, Puccini secured Sardou's approval for an opera based on this narrative, leading to the premiere of "Tosca" in Rome in 1900, which was met with overwhelming success. The text presents the Italian libretto alongside a widely used German translation, providing insights into the musical and dramatic elements of the opera, as well as the compositional structure and thematic connections. A brief summary of the plot, an overview of the work's creation, and discussions of its themes and narrative place the opera within the broader context of the composer's oeuvre and biography, offering a comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction.