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Donald Macleod, in conversation with Sir Antonio Pappano, traces the developmental line of Puccini's meticulously crafted dramatic heroines. Today they discuss one of the most passionate and complex of characters, Tosca.

Manon Lescaut, Mimì, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Suor Angelica are women who capture our hearts and connect directly with our emotions. Recorded at the Royal Opera House, seated beneath several striking portraits of the composer, Tony dips into the scores to show how Puccini created these unforgettable characters and how with each one, he was seeking to perfect the synthesis between music and action, while constantly looking to push the boundaries of his musical language.

Born in 1858 in Lucca into a dynasty of musicians, Puccini was destined to be a church composer. That all changed when at age of 18, he walked to Pisa to see Verdi's Aida. It proved to be a formative experience. In that moment, he determined to become a man of the theatre, writing music exclusively for the stage. He went on to produce a dozen operas in fulfilment of that ambition - the last of them left incomplete at his death in 1924 - include La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly, still the cornerstones of any opera house's repertory.

Now firmly established as an internationally acclaimed figure, there was a lot of hype surrounding a new opera by Puccini. But when Tosca was first heard in Rome on 14th January 1900, the audience simply didn't get what they were hearing. They were confused. Where, they asked was the melody?

Vissi d'arte (Tosca, Act 2)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano, Tosca
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Antonio Pappano, director

Tre sbirri, una carrozza (Tosca, Act 1)
Ruggero Raimondi, baritone, Scarpia
David Cangelosi, tenor, Spoletta
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Antonio Pappano, director

Act 3 (Tosca)
Gwynne Howell, bass, Carceriere
Roberto Alagna, tenor, Cavaradossi
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano, Tosca
David Cangelosi, tenor, Spoletta
Sorin Coliban, bass, Sciarrone
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Antonio Pappano, director.