Puccini: Tosca

Andrew Shore (Performer), Ashley Holland (Performer), Christopher Booth-Jones (Performer), Gregory Yurisich (Performer), Liu Yun-Jie (Performer), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), David Parry (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Jane Eaglen (Performer), Dennis O'Neill (Performer), John Daszak (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Andrew Shore, Ashley Holland, Christopher Booth-Jones, Gregory Yurisich, Liu Yun-Jie, et al.
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: David Parry
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (May 21, 1996)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B000000A6Q
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,268 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #5 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Eaglen, Jane

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Bit Too British for Me, September 26, 2002

By 

"marxnick02" (union city, nj United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puccini: Tosca (Audio CD)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jane Eaglen is the perfect Tosca!, April 27, 2000

By 

James Walters (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puccini: Tosca (Audio CD)

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.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo to Eaglen, January 18, 2000

By 

Daniel Mitrano (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puccini: Tosca (Audio CD)

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.