Giacomo Puccini Renata Scotto Plaacutecido Domingo - Puccini Tosca Scotto Domingo Bruson Levine (30 tracks) +Album Reviews

This is the best Tosca of the digital era

J. Luis Juarez Echenique | Mexico City | 11/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though I agree that the Callas/De Sabata and the Price/Karajan Toscas are the best recordings ever made of this opera, there is still much greatness in this recording and it is certainly worth hearing. First of all Scotto gives a tremendous performance in the title role, one of the most compelling ever. It's true that her voice was not meant for this music, and some loud notes are less than beautiful, but her commitment and determination are admirable, no soprano after her is even worth hearing as Tosca (Te Kanawa? Vaness? Gheorghiu?). Domingo is in fine voice and delivers the goods with aplomb. And Bruson is a different Scarpia. He certainly is not a singing actor as Gobbi or Taddei, but his opulent gorgeous voice is very, very nice to hear. All in all, this is the best Tosca of the digital era, and considering the kind of sopranos we have now (Studer, Gheorghiu) it's likely to remain so for many, many years."

A Great Tosca!

Marcelo Jara | Philadelphia, PA United States | 06/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I thought it only fair to include another opinion of this recording. I also own the Callas and Price versions, which I love, but if you are a Scotto fan, you will definitely want this recording along side the others. Scotto, as always, sings with so much passion and desperation. She really puts across all of Tosca's extreme emotions. Her high C's are all secure and strong. Domingo of course sounds great, and Levine's conducting is very forceful. A very exciting and satifying performance."

Fabulous Tosca

Scott Jelsey | Houston, TX United States | 11/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the very best of the modern Tosca recordings. The 1953 Callas recording and the second Tebaldi recording are in a class by themselves. Scotto is, however, very much their equal and delivers a very compelling portrait of the jealous diva. Her voice is in late prime condition and she shades and colors it very effectively, especially in the heat of Act II. Domingo is at his very best - lots of squillo and very involved - his best recording of the role (out of three studio readings). Bruson is in magnificent voice and is a quite scary Scarpia indeed. Levine shapes the score with care, not dragging things out as he is often inclined to do. In summary, do not hesitate to buy this very intense and gorgeous performance of Tosca."

This One Is For Fans Of Renata Scotto And Placido Domingo

Marcelo Jara | 01/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded in 1980 for EMI, this Tosca stars Renata Scotto and Placido Domingo in his second recorded Tosca. Also stars Renato Bruson and is conducted under the baton of James Levine. Fans of the principal singers will not hesitate to buy this one. Particularly impressive is Placido Domingo's Mario Cavaradossi, not to diminish the fine work of Scotto as Tosca, though she is not to everyone's tastes. Like Maria Callas, Renata Scotto was a controversial singer. Some found her strident, melodramatic and unsubtle. Her Tosca may not compare in beauty of tone like Renata Tebaldi or Leontyne Price, but she could get to the essence of the character immediately. Act 1 has some beautiful singing by her part and in Act 2, she colors and shades her voice to effectively portray despair, horror and murderous rage. She is a different animal than the Toscas most audiophiles are ued to. But her big dramatic voice is very Italian and perfectly built for the role. I think her Murder of Scarpia scene is well done as is the Final Scene in which she jumps from the Castel San Angelo. Renata Scotto has a rich, sultry voice with power and compelling dramatic thrust. Her "Vissi D'Arte" is radiant. Hers is a Tosca that is underrated but it is absolutely gorgeous. Even if her high register tends to wobble (so did Callas) it is a beautiful voice from top to bottom.

Placido Domingo's Cavaradossi on this recording is the all-around best. This Cavaradossi is better than his first recorded one with Leontyne Price for RCA in 1973 and the later one in 1990 with Mirella Freni for Deutsche Grammophone. Here, he employ all the techniques that was his claim to fame- a gleaming top, a baritonal quality, a dark edginess and masculine power. He is also a consummate vocal actor. The E Lucevan La Stelle is a rapture as is the "Vittoria!". The love duets are audial feasts and the music climaxes and swells with passion. Levine knew how to deliver good music with enough beauty and power to make an opera more than one-dimensional. Unfortunately, Renato Bruson is the weak link here. His Scarpia is nothing special. It's bland, it lacks power and magnitude. But get this for Domingo and Scotto. A must have and a bargain price"

Scotto Is Tosca!

Bobby Hughart | Fort Smith, AR USA | 07/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll be brief, there are dozens of recordings of this "Shabby Little Shocker," and everyone has their favorite, Callas it seems, always rises to the top of the heap, and there are those who will argue for this or that recording due to X,Y or Z, but Scotto owns this role. She is Tosca! Puccini himself would have wooed her. You never doubt for a moment that this is a woman who can survive the torture and eventual death of her lover due to a double-crossing villian, an attempted rape, commit murder, and finally suicide in what has to be one of the greatest endings and last lines in all of opera. Scotto is visceral, a true blood and guts Tosca, very much an artist, very much a woman, a force that can rip your heart out or fall vulnerable at your feet. Scotto's VISSI D'ARTE, that plaintive plea to heaven, is achingly beautiful and heartbreaking in its intensity. Domingo and Bruson, conducted beautifully by James Levine, lend solid support, but this is Scotto's show and she lets you know it."

Search - Giacomo Puccini, Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo :: Puccini: Tosca / Scotto, Domingo, Bruson; Levine

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