Giuseppe Sinopoli

The Chevalier des Grieux meets and seduces the young Manon when she is being escorted by her brother to a convent. Manon lives with des Grieux in Paris, but leaves him for a rich admirer. She is later arrested, charged with prostitution, and deported to Louisiana. Des Grieux accompanies her and during an escape attempt she dies in his arms.

The story begins with Napoleon Bonaparte, political enemy of Scarpia advancing upon Rome. Cavaradossi a painter and Angelotti an escaped prisoner are political allies and see Napoleon as a hero. Angelotti has taken refuge in a chapel of a church in Rome in which Cavaradossi is painting a portrait of the Madonna. Cavaradossi has as his lover a famous singer Floria Tosca who attempts to enter the church and finds the door locked. She becomes jealous...