Search - Mirella Freni, Plácido Domingo, Bryan Secombe :: Giacomo Puccini: Tosca - Mirella Freni / Plácido Domingo / Samuel Ramey / Philharmonia Orchestra / Giuseppe Sinopoli

A Beautiful Tosca

D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 11/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard part of this recording of Tosca over the radio and was so impressed by the performance that I wanted to hear the entire recording. What drew my attention was Samuel Ramey's Scarpia, sung with such charm and menace that makes him a perfect villain. I was more familiar with the Maria Callas recording with Di Stefano from the 1950's but I found the Sinopoli recording very impressive. Callas makes a great strong willed heroine but Mirella Freni comes across, for me, as a woman of extremes; fiery when jealous but easily crushed by the evil intentions of Scarpia. Her performance has many facets and her performance is superb. Ms. Freni shines in the first act as she confronts Cavaradossi with her imagined affair and is defiant and horrified as her lover is tortured by Scarpia. Her singing of Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore was sensitively sung. Placido Domingo makes a fine Cavaradossi and is in great voice giving us a sensitive performance of E lucevan le stelle in the final act and acting every inch the hero as he is tortured in the second. Bryn Terfel makes an excellent Agnelotti, a supporting role that was luxury casting. Samuel Ramey is a perfect Scarpia, charming to Tosca and threatening to his subordinates. The photograph of him in character on the back of the booklet says it all; he is elegant but must be feared.



Giuseppe Sinopoli is very effective in bringing out the many emotions of the score and the Philharmonia Orchestra play marvelously. The recording is bright and clear and the tempos are nicely chosen. I recommend this recording on all points: cast, orchestra and conductor.



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Amazing

Ali B. Erkilic | Istanbul, Turkey | 02/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording can't be described by any words but amazing. Brilliant orchestra of Royal Opera, a powerful conducter Sinopoli, one of the best baritones in the world Ramey, wonderful primadonna Freni and of course the magician of the world's opera stages Placido Domingo. I recommend this recording to all the opera lovers. Even the people who don't enjoy opera would probably be amazed by this wonderful recording when they listen. Buy it, you definately definately won't regret."

My favorite Tosca

E. Greene | New York, NY USA | 11/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tosca may just be my favorite opera and this recording is the one I listen to over and over again. I never seem to tire of it. All three leads - Freni, Domingo, and Ramey - are fantastic. Ramey especially in his portrayal of Scarpia - he is sexy and frightening. I would highly recommend it."