Review of Giacomo Puccini - Tosca

I've had my fill of Tosca productions -- from the awful ones with minimal stage dressing and zombie-like blocking, to the lavish ones with huge multi-level sets and international stars. This production is from the Finnish National Opera (which I didn't know existed), starring Italian and Finnish singers. And WHAT singers! Our Cavaradossi is powerful, elegant, sexy, romantic, and passionate. Tosca herself is terrifically sexy and playful, piteous and awe-inspiring in act II, and borderline insane in act III. And the Scarpia! I don't think I've ever seen such a vile, despicable, EVIL monster -- sung and acted to perfection by. Tuomas Pursio. I mean, Sherrill Milnes is evil suavity at its best, but Pursio is just evil -- so borderline insane that he almost made me feel sorry for him. For a half a second. Splendid, but not overwhelming sets. Warm, beautiful orchestral music, impeccable direction. Move over, Placido Domingo --Andrea Carè is now the archetypal Mario Cavaradossi!