TOSCA: Act II: Life Has Taught Me Singing And Loving
TOSCA: Act II: Which Route Have You Chosen?
TOSCA: Act III: No Words Can Cheer Me
TOSCA: Act III: All The Stars Shone In Heaven
TOSCA: Act III: Oh, Hands Of Mercy
TOSCA: Act III: What A Time They Are Taking!
Do we really need another Tosca in English? Forget the question, because if you think we do, you'll want this set regardless of its qualities or flaws. But if you're skeptical, you should give this a listen anyway. Jane Ea... more »glen's Tosca is wonderfully sung (and surprisingly well enunciated). While she certainly doesn't move us the way Callas does, she's far better than Dame Kiri (but then again, so are most of my great-aunts). Eaglen won't vulgarize by pushing dramatic moments into her chest voice, although sometimes you wish that she would. Dennis O'Neill is such a dedicated artist that I wish I liked his voice better. He offers a nuanced Cavaradossi that turns somewhat unpleasant at forte above the staff, but one could mistake that for drama. Gregory Yurisich's Scarpia is nicely snarling--just about every nasty word he sings can be understood. Conductor David Parry seems a bit out of his element--he leads a sleepy performance, even if it is a well-played sleepy performance. This is for Eaglen fans and those who prefer "All the stars shone in heaven" to "E lucevan le stelle." And you know who you are. --Robert Levine« less
Do we really need another Tosca in English? Forget the question, because if you think we do, you'll want this set regardless of its qualities or flaws. But if you're skeptical, you should give this a listen anyway. Jane Eaglen's Tosca is wonderfully sung (and surprisingly well enunciated). While she certainly doesn't move us the way Callas does, she's far better than Dame Kiri (but then again, so are most of my great-aunts). Eaglen won't vulgarize by pushing dramatic moments into her chest voice, although sometimes you wish that she would. Dennis O'Neill is such a dedicated artist that I wish I liked his voice better. He offers a nuanced Cavaradossi that turns somewhat unpleasant at forte above the staff, but one could mistake that for drama. Gregory Yurisich's Scarpia is nicely snarling--just about every nasty word he sings can be understood. Conductor David Parry seems a bit out of his element--he leads a sleepy performance, even if it is a well-played sleepy performance. This is for Eaglen fans and those who prefer "All the stars shone in heaven" to "E lucevan le stelle." And you know who you are. --Robert Levine
CD Reviews
Bravo to Eaglen
Daniel Mitrano | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 01/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Although the "Opera in English" series is already an excellent and frankly overdue undertaking, bravo to Jane Eaglen for bringing the whole series to a new level. She gloriously confirms that opera in English isn't just for second string (but excellent) British and American singers, it is art to be taken seriously and should also be sung by major international voices. (Jerry Hadley has done the same with all those marvelous Lehar operetta recordings in English with Bonynge--keep 'em coming.) Eaglen sails through this performance with total security and abandon, never sacrificing a chance to wield a masterful interpretation that stands on ground with all the great Toscas. She inspires the other participants to do the same (notice how the performance doesn't really catch fire until the second act when she's the focus). O'Neill, excellent and passionate, contrasts Eaglen's cool-blue timbre with his own Italiante, if a little "blond" timbre. Gregory Yurisich is a shattering but believable Scarpia, cleanly vocalized. The supporting cast is adequate except for the boy treble Shepherd who sounds nervous and has questionable pitch. As usual, Parry's conducting is first rate and brings out the drama as well as warmth in the score. I cannot recommend this set more--even to those who would normally turn their nose up at an English translation."
A Bit Too British for Me
marxnick02 | union city, nj United States | 09/26/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I'm intrigued by opera in English because when done well, the immediacy of the words really hit me with more impact than in the original language. But most operas seem to work better in the vernacular they were written in. Eaglen sings an excellent Tosca. She's more at home in the role than I expected. But I really had to give this recording * for Eaglen. It's well recorded, conducted effectively but the general effect seems to lack power. The other soloists do an adequate job. This is not recording I would go back to very often and even sold off my copy."
Jane Eaglen is the perfect Tosca!
James Walters | Seattle, WA USA | 04/27/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Vocally Eaglen is the perfect Tosca. She matches beatiful tone with dramatic power. O'Neil does an acceptable job, the role seems to be a tad too dramatic for him."
Uninvolving performance
Daniel Mitrano | 10/23/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"This is a mediocre recording. The title role, in particular, is poorly serviced by Jane Eaglen, whose performance is dramatically uninvoling and vocally forgettable. There're much better versions of this popular opera in the catalogues."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1