Tosca: “And the stars were shining”

We are exploring timeless arias from Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca.

Here’s “E lucevan le stelle” (“And the stars were shining”)

On the stark rooftop of Castel Sant’Angelo at dawn, with the firing squad’s rifles glinting in the early light, Cavaradossi awaits his execution. These lines shed light on the emotions going through his head: “My dream of love has vanished forever. The hour has fled… and I die in despair! And never have I loved life so much!”

#TimelessArias

One more thought. I have watched Tosca more times than I can count, and every single time I secretly hoped that Cavaradossi would get up after the rifles fired. Alas. I love this scene.