Tosca is not only my favourite Puccini opera but also one of my favourites of all time. For how amazing it is musically alone, this 1961 performance is one of the better Toscas I've seen recently.
It's not perfect I don't think. Some of the lighting is harsh, the picture quality was in need of more clarity especially at the start and during the act 3 duet. Eugene Tobin sings Caveradossi very well, but lacks the arrogance and poignancy that I see and hear from the likes of Domingo for example.
On the other hand, everything else is so good. Scarpia is wonderfully vivid in characterisation, complex and very powerful. The story with the lyrical first act, the terrifying tour-De-force that is the second act and the emotionally devastating last act is hugely compelling throughout and the music right from the first chords to the hair-raising finale is simply magnificent, Te Deum and Vissi D'Arte are definite high points.
The orchestra play wonderfully, Mario, Mario, Mario is nicely restrained, and the whole second act just leaves you on the edge of your seat. I'd say the two most impressive moments orchestra playing-wise were the difficult horn section that opens up act 3 where the horns actually sound like one, exactly what it should be like, and the divine cello ensemble which just makes me bawl every time I hear it. Patane's conducting is as musical and as refined as it ever was.
Costumes and sets are attractive without being too lavish, act 2 was the most effective for both. Staging was good, the whole torture/interrogation scene was the epitome of intense.
Aside from Tobin and Spoletta having a tendency to speak his music rather than singing it, the performances are superb. Not only did Renata Tebaldi have one of the biggest soprano voices, but she also had one of the most beautiful and musically shaped ones too. Her Tosca is exceptional, completely convincing, dramatic and moving. The other truly outstanding performance was George London as Scarpia. He is vocally and dramatically powerful especially in the Te Deum and the whole second act. He shows a huge, appealing voice and a gift for acting, he is charming and human one minute and manipulative and very Machiavellian the next.
All in all, a great Tosca, Tebaldi and London are the highlights. 8.5/10 Bethany Cox
It's not perfect I don't think. Some of the lighting is harsh, the picture quality was in need of more clarity especially at the start and during the act 3 duet. Eugene Tobin sings Caveradossi very well, but lacks the arrogance and poignancy that I see and hear from the likes of Domingo for example.
On the other hand, everything else is so good. Scarpia is wonderfully vivid in characterisation, complex and very powerful. The story with the lyrical first act, the terrifying tour-De-force that is the second act and the emotionally devastating last act is hugely compelling throughout and the music right from the first chords to the hair-raising finale is simply magnificent, Te Deum and Vissi D'Arte are definite high points.
The orchestra play wonderfully, Mario, Mario, Mario is nicely restrained, and the whole second act just leaves you on the edge of your seat. I'd say the two most impressive moments orchestra playing-wise were the difficult horn section that opens up act 3 where the horns actually sound like one, exactly what it should be like, and the divine cello ensemble which just makes me bawl every time I hear it. Patane's conducting is as musical and as refined as it ever was.
Costumes and sets are attractive without being too lavish, act 2 was the most effective for both. Staging was good, the whole torture/interrogation scene was the epitome of intense.
Aside from Tobin and Spoletta having a tendency to speak his music rather than singing it, the performances are superb. Not only did Renata Tebaldi have one of the biggest soprano voices, but she also had one of the most beautiful and musically shaped ones too. Her Tosca is exceptional, completely convincing, dramatic and moving. The other truly outstanding performance was George London as Scarpia. He is vocally and dramatically powerful especially in the Te Deum and the whole second act. He shows a huge, appealing voice and a gift for acting, he is charming and human one minute and manipulative and very Machiavellian the next.
All in all, a great Tosca, Tebaldi and London are the highlights. 8.5/10 Bethany Cox
