Tosca is my favourite of Puccini's operas, with La Boheme a close second(though I do have a soft spot for all of them). The music is powerful and gorgeous and Scarpia is a complex villain that lives long in the memory when done right. And this is a wonderful production, up there with the 2004, 2006 and 2011 productions as one of the better productions of Tosca of the past twenty years. Much more consistent than the Met, Guleghina and Cura productions, all three examples of performances that promised more than they delivered. The 2009 Zurich was interesting, brilliantly performed by all three leads, but occasionally questionable(ie. Tosca's treatment of Cavaradossi) Though I don't consider it one of my absolute favourites, my personal favourite is the 1976 film closely followed by the 1992, 1984 and 1985 productions.
It is a traditional production that is sumptuous while never taking away from the opera's tragedy, passion and darkness. The sets are gritty and realistic, especially the Act 1 church setting, and the costumes are tailored beautifully. The picture quality is clear, the video directing is brilliant capturing the opera and the performance's intensity and passion to perfection and the sound does make you feel as if you were there. The staging has all the poignancy, passion and revenge the opera should, and makes for most compelling drama. Especially the brilliance that is Act 2, one of the best middle acts in all opera.
Musically, I can't fault it. The orchestral playing is both hair-raising and nuanced, the conducting done with firmness and intent and the chorus in their small role in the opera well balanced. The secondary roles are well taken as well, especially the impishly slimy Spoletta.
Daniela Dessi's Tosca is impassioned and moving, as well as an example of a true diva and performed with real commitment. Her voice is powerful and consistently strong and mostly even, yet her Vissi D'Arte does show a lot of musical sensitivity as well. Fabio Armiliato proves yet again to be a thrilling Cavaradossi, his voice is ringing and he succeeds in being ardent, arrogant and poignant all at once. Dessi and Armiliato work wonderfully together, with very committed and emotional performances of Mario Mario Mario and O Dolci Mani. Claudio Sgura's Scarpia is excellent. He is not one of my absolute favourites, but his is a very interesting interpretation. His voice is powerful without resorting to bellowing or speaking the lines too much. It doesn't have Gobbi's menacing snarl, but it is a little more powerful than Raimondi's(if not as evil) and just as virile as Milnes' if lacking his unique vocal steel. His Scarpia is not a caricature, it is an authoritative and terrifyingly ruthless interpretation while also showing a human side.
All in all, a wonderful Tosca, only let down by some unforgiving close ups and a lack of flow at times with the (deserved) applause and encores. 9/10 Bethany Cox
It is a traditional production that is sumptuous while never taking away from the opera's tragedy, passion and darkness. The sets are gritty and realistic, especially the Act 1 church setting, and the costumes are tailored beautifully. The picture quality is clear, the video directing is brilliant capturing the opera and the performance's intensity and passion to perfection and the sound does make you feel as if you were there. The staging has all the poignancy, passion and revenge the opera should, and makes for most compelling drama. Especially the brilliance that is Act 2, one of the best middle acts in all opera.
Musically, I can't fault it. The orchestral playing is both hair-raising and nuanced, the conducting done with firmness and intent and the chorus in their small role in the opera well balanced. The secondary roles are well taken as well, especially the impishly slimy Spoletta.
Daniela Dessi's Tosca is impassioned and moving, as well as an example of a true diva and performed with real commitment. Her voice is powerful and consistently strong and mostly even, yet her Vissi D'Arte does show a lot of musical sensitivity as well. Fabio Armiliato proves yet again to be a thrilling Cavaradossi, his voice is ringing and he succeeds in being ardent, arrogant and poignant all at once. Dessi and Armiliato work wonderfully together, with very committed and emotional performances of Mario Mario Mario and O Dolci Mani. Claudio Sgura's Scarpia is excellent. He is not one of my absolute favourites, but his is a very interesting interpretation. His voice is powerful without resorting to bellowing or speaking the lines too much. It doesn't have Gobbi's menacing snarl, but it is a little more powerful than Raimondi's(if not as evil) and just as virile as Milnes' if lacking his unique vocal steel. His Scarpia is not a caricature, it is an authoritative and terrifyingly ruthless interpretation while also showing a human side.
All in all, a wonderful Tosca, only let down by some unforgiving close ups and a lack of flow at times with the (deserved) applause and encores. 9/10 Bethany Cox
