Giacomo Puccini Erich Leinsdorf Rome Opera Orchestra - Puccini Tosca (36 tracks) +Album Reviews

La Milanov is Tosca con grandezza!!

Impostazione | New York City Area | 05/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Milanov sound at its best is sublime, as fine as any recorded soprano, but these ravishing sounds are not a general rule for La Milanov, and recordings, so I have heard, do her no justice. Her Tosca is grand, imperious, and a diva indeed. There are vocal moments in the recording that no other soprano has equaled such as the phrase, "e luna piena" which is sung with such softness, fullness and beauty as possibly conceivable. One feels the full moon in her sound. Other notable moments are "quanto e pinota anima mia" and the lovely conclusion of Vissi d'arte. There are also some well phrased dramatic moments in the opera. These are moments where Milanov is without equal. Madame Milanov lacks a forceful top register, bite, accent, which Tosca needs, but she has such an open tone that it compensates somewhat for the occasional sharp, backward, squally and narrow tones which come as a result of the Slavic production overdone.In short, in spite of every so called shortcoming, this is a fine recording and Milanov's commitment to the music is admirable and deserves high praise. She was truly in class by herself and her voice is TOTALLY distinct.Buy it!!"

Great voices

Queen Margo | Arlington | 03/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even though Callas/di Stefano/Gobbi remains my number one Tosca, this one is a must-have for the beautiful voices of the lead singers. Some have complained about Milanov being "matronly" or "poor" actress. I disagree. She just creates a different Tosca. Who says they all have to be the same? I surely am glad to have several Toscas to schoose from as the mood strikes. This one is beautiful and well worth the money."

Milanov Admittedly Flawed Here.

Edward R. Oneill | San Francisco, CA | 11/26/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"
This is a wonderful recording, but those complaining about Milanov have a point.

I love the woman's singing, but this is simply not her best recording. She can be shrill and wobbly in spots. It can be exciting--a high-wire act, will she make it? exciting. But it can also be a bit painful.

Her vocal acting is also not the greatest here. Her delivery after killing Scarpia is just flat. Maybe it's understatement. But after seeing and hearing Callas do it, it's hard to accept Milanov's version as great acting.

Mind you, her Aida and other recordings are, I think, sublime. No doubt.

But this was not, shall we say, her finest hour.

But it is in general a recording of a very high quality--typical of the artists, studio and period, who are often hard to beat. Bjoerling is pretty amazing, as usual. Did the guy ever have a bad day? Not in the recording studio, it seems.

"

Primarily Jussi Bjoerling's show

Robert T. Martin | 03/26/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This recording belongs to Bjoerling's Cavaradossi. He provides a multifaceted performance, heroic, tender and touching. His Cavaradossi neither screams nor blubbers and retains a dignity even in the face of the degradation suffered at the hands of Scarpia's henchmen. Lovely touches are everywhere, anxious to get back to work in the first act he may be, yet his voice smiles when he sings "giura" to calm the jealous Tosca. His "vittoria" is as thrilling as one would want yet he saves his best work for the last act where emotions shift from phrase to phrase. His interaction with the jailer ("Io lascio mondo) is heartbreaking and "e lucevan le stele" is astounding-inexorably building to a desperate "e non ho amato mai tanto la vita."

His voice is in generally fine shape yet there is some tightness in the upper registers and he resorts to little hops to reach the highest notes ("vittoria" is an obvious example). Nevertheless this must be one of the finest Cavaradossi performances ever recorded.

Ironically Bjoerling creates a problem. Can a recording of this opera be completely successful if Cavaradossi's performance outshines Tosca's? Probably not which brings us to Ms. Milanov. Tosca is a woman who can be petulant and jealous in the first act; by turns outraged, frightened, defiant, despairing and capable of murder or at least justifiable homicide in the second; susceptible to false hope and finally suicide in the third. Zinka Milanov's singing is heartfelt but her voice just doesn't summon anywhere near the range of emotions that a successful Tosca must exhibit during the course of this opera. Her vocalism for the most part is secure and at ease but she does encounter problems. In "vissi d'arte" she sounds labored; her famous pianos are there but are not always attractively sustained; intonation (a problem with her) is generally good but she does slip off pitch on occasion. This recording, dating from 1957, might have caught her a few years past her prime and frankly she sounds a bit "matronly" particularly when compared with Bjoerling's youthful energy.

Leonard Warren sings well, his Scarpia insinuates rather than rants and thus displays a frightening nobility. Still, a bit more vocal malevolence might have added some bite and shading to his interpretation.

Leinsdorf's conducting is generally alert, sympathetic to his singer's needs, detailed and undistinguished. His segmented, episodic approach in the first act robs it of momentum and his "Te Deum" is underpowered. He supplies some tension in the second act-his best work. There seems to be some ensemble problems (and scrawny strings) in the third act's interlude leading to "e lucevan le stele" but things go reasonably well after that.

This recording is in early (1957) stereo. There is good separation but it is very closely miked and very dry leading to some unattractive sounds in the louder passages. A full libretto, synopsis and track information is provided.

Not a first choice Tosca but worth considering for Bjoerling's sterling effort.

"

MARIO, MARIO? NO, JUSSI CAVARADOSSI

mangiafrani | NYC | 05/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Best Caravaradossi on record. Oh, what a "VICTORIA"! Milanov floats her usual beautiful pianissmo's at you. Warren is a very cunning and sly Scarpia. Conductor, Leinsdorf right on the money. Great recording! Thanks go to RCA to re-issue this as a "LIVING STEREO" series is a definite plus. The sound is great."

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