Puccini became heir to the great Italian operatic tradition passed down through the Bel Canto age through the towering achievements of Giuseppe Verdi. Tosca, based on a true story set in Rome in 1800 during a period of political turbulence, features the celebrated opera diva, Floria Tosca, the lover of the political refugee, Mario Cavaradossi, and the evil Baron Scarpia, the chief of police who lusts after Tosca. In Act One, Mario is painting a portrait of Mary Magdalene and sings his romanza comparing the beauty of Tosca to the painting. The libretto concludes with the lines “Art, in its mysterious way/blends the contrasting beauties together.../ But while I'm painting her,/My only thought is of you,/Tosca, it is of you!

Program Note by David B. Levy, ©2026

Original Text: 

Recondita armonia

Di belleze diverse!...E bruna Floria

L'ardente amante mia

E te, beltade ignota, cinta di chiome bionde!

Tu azzuro hai l'occhio, Tosca ha l'occhio nero!

L'arte nel suo mistero

Le diverse belleze insiem confonde:

Ma nel ritrar costei

Il mio solo pensiero

Ah! il mio solo pensier, sei tu

Tosca, sei tu!

Translation: 

What strange and lovely harmony

Of such different beauties! How dark is Floria

This ardent love of mine

And you, mysterious beauty, long blonde and flowing tresses

How your eyes are sky blue, Tosca's eyes are black-night

Art, too, with it's many mysteries

Blends all together such different beauties

But though I paint another

My only thought is you

Oh, my only thought is you

Tosca, is you, is you!