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

Mirella Freni (Artist), Placido Domingo (Artist), Bryan Secombe (Artist), Chorus & Children's Chorus of the Royal Opera House - Covent Garden (Artist), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Giuseppe Sinopoli (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra
• Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (September 15, 1992)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GF4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,620 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #5 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Freni, Mirella

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Il mio sol pensier, Tosca, sei tu!", April 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Giacomo Puccini: Tosca - Mirella Freni / Plácido Domingo / Samuel Ramey / Philharmonia Orchestra / Giuseppe Sinopoli (Audio CD)

It's great to realize that people born in this century can give THE definitive performance of any opera. Everybody who is still listening to Leindsorf and De Sabata directing Tosca in the early 50s, and crying out "Sound is a mess!" can forget the old recordings... Sinopoli's Tosca is just the greatest opera-set released lately: powerful orchestral colors, perfect tempi, and an exciting interpretation. Mirella Freni is the ideal Tosca, as well as she is the ideal Mimì, the ideal Butterfly and the ideal Manon. She's sexy without being vulgar (too many Toscas are!), passionate without being too pathetic, and she sounds younger than she did in her early recording with Rescigno. Cavaradossi is one of the top roles of Domingo (like Otello, Samson and Don Josè). His singing here is beautiful, despite some diction problems (i.e. "Nei ritrar costei..."). Ramey is the best Scarpia ever: his frightening voice and his perfect italian pronunciation are completed by his terrific interpretation of the character. Wow!!! Terfel, Laciura and, most of all, Veccia give thoughtful and accurate performances (what a "Sagrestano"!!!)-- Mac

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best modern "Tosca", July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Giacomo Puccini: Tosca - Mirella Freni / Plácido Domingo / Samuel Ramey / Philharmonia Orchestra / Giuseppe Sinopoli (Audio CD)

While most everyone would agree that it is simply impossible to better the famous Callas-de Sabata recording of "Tosca," this recording must definitely be regarded as a worthy contender. This is the best Tosca available in modern sound, and quite spectacular at that. Many moments will raise the hair on the back of your neck. Domingo is a very good Cavaradossi, but a little vague dramatically. Freni and Ramey are where the show lies on this set. Ramey is a Scarpia like no other -- dignified and noble, commanding respect through his presence instead of by barking at people. Freni sings beautifully and powerfully, with dramatic conviction and some gorgeously spun pianissimi. Sinopoli's conducting is disctinctive (as usual) without being distracting. He knows when to linger over a phrase and when to propel the action forward. If you want the best Tosca in stereo sound, this one can't be beat.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Tosca, November 17, 2005

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Giacomo Puccini: Tosca - Mirella Freni / Plácido Domingo / Samuel Ramey / Philharmonia Orchestra / Giuseppe Sinopoli (Audio CD)

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.