Puccini: Tosca

Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Colin Davis (Conductor), Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestr (Orchestra), Ann Murray (Performer), Domenico Trimarchi (Performer), Ingvar Wixell (Performer), José Carreras (Performer), Montserrat Caballé (Performer), Piero de Palma (Performer), Samuel Ramey (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ann Murray, Domenico Trimarchi, Ingvar Wixell, José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, et al.
• Orchestra: Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestr
• Conductor: Colin Davis
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (August 10, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000416I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,916 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #17 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Caballe, Montserrat
  • #66 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > C to G

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Ah! Finalmente!'

2. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'E sempre lava! - Agnus Domini nuntiavit Mariac'/'Che fal!?'

3. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Dammi i colori!'

4. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Recondita armonia'

5. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Gente lŕ dentro!'

6. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Mario! Mario! Mario!'/'Son qui!'/'Non la sospiri la nostra casette'

7. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Ah, quegli occhi...'/'Qual occhio al mondo puň star di paro'

8. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Mia gelosa!'

9. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Č buona la mia Tosca'/'Siam soil?'

10. Tosca, opera: Act 1: 'Sommo giubilo, Eccellenza!'

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Tosca, opera: Act 2: 'Floria!...'/'Amore...'

2. Tosca, opera: Act 2: 'Nel pozzo del giardino. Va, Spoletta!'/'Eccellenza, quali nuove!'/'Vittoria!'

3. Tosca, opera: Act 2: 'Se la giurata fede'

4. Tosca, opera: Act 2: 'Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore

5. Tosca, opera: Act 2: 'Vedi, le man giunte'

6. Tosca, opera: Act 2: 'E qual via scegliete?'

7. Tosca, opera: Act 2: 'Tosca, finalmente mia!'

8. Tosca, opera: Act 3: Io de' sospiri'

9. Tosca, opera: Act 3: 'Mario Cavaradossi?'/'A voi'

10. Tosca, opera: Act 3: Indtroduzione a:

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

José Carreras recorded Tosca twice in the 1970s--his best years--but his voice was much better for Colin Davis when recording this set in 1976 than it was for Herbert von Karajan's 1979 interpretation. And Davis's conducting is also better. It would be nearly ideal if Ruggero Raimondi could be transferred from the von Karajan set (and perhaps Katia Ricciarelli; tastes differ on Montserrat Caballé's Tosca). In any case, for Carreras fans, this is the Tosca to have. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One word - divine!, January 7, 2000

By 

"tenor_in_training" - See all my reviews

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

The word "divine" really comes close to describing this wonderful recording. All the artists here are in their glorious prime, their singing and acting is nothing short of sensational. Caballé's Tosca is literally "to die for" and José Carreras' Cavaradossi is a perfect match for her. I've heard many recordings and live performances of Tosca, but never have I heard anything like this. Their voices and emotions are almost unbelievably good, just pick any moment in the opera to see what I mean. The arias from this opera became their signature pieces, they sing them often in concerts and on other recording, but for the sheer glorious beauty of sound turn to this recording. I wholeheartedly agree with the reviewer below who boldly stated that this recording surpasses the famous Callas/Di Stefano set. While Caballé differs from Callas substantially in terms of vocal range and interpretation (you would want to hear both), Carreras sounds similar to Di Stafano, only stronger, prettier and more involved. The darker coloring of his voice adds a lot. He adds an interesting twist to his Cavaradossi - he acts strongly upon his emotions, yet realizing that he is a weapon in the hands of fate, whose arrival is announced by Angelotti (sang by Samuel Ramey, no less!). Unlike the typical, lost-in-dreams and even narcissistic Mario, he conveys the sense of inevitable fate brilliantly from the very beginning, as he paints the image of his beloved "Dammi i colori... Recognita Armonia."

Tosca is often sang by spinto sopranos (Marton, Scotto), but Caballé managed to defy this presumption. Her beautiful bel canto voice is able to convey the depth of Tosca's character - while she is obviously a "prima donna" in every sense, she allows passions to rule her life and dictate her actions, something a self-absorbed "diva" is normally not likely to do. Interestingly she is not afraid to allow a "break" into her voice for the powerful dramatic effect.

Wixell is a good, solid, evil Scarpia, even though I usually like to hear tougher, suave, darker-voiced Scarpias, such as the one of Tito Gobbi's, Ruggero Raimondi's (on the Karajan set), or Renato Bruson's. I think Scarpia should carry an air of seduction, his character is one of the most fascinating ones ever created; Act II is totally his right up to Tosca's "Vissi d'arte" and Wixell proves that he is up to the challenge.

Sir Colin Davis keeps action fast and gripping, after all, it should be a "little shocker." He would be a polar opposite to, say, Sinopoli or Karajan, who both like to emphasize the orchestral involvement and slow down the tempos quite a bit. Their sets are a "must hear" because they present "Tosca" under a completely different angle, which makes it only more interesting. One can't have too many interpretations of this magnificent opera. But this set should be definitely included in its top three recordings of this century. Philips has done an injustice to it by reducing it to the "Duo" series that omits the libretto and critical essays, but at the same time it created one irresistible deal.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sir Colin, Caballe, and Carreras at Covent : Commanding!, May 31, 1999

By A Customer

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

When I first found this cd, I fretted a bit. It was not reviewed in my Penguin (1996) guide--and with these principals, alarm bells went off in my head. I decided to trust my educated instinct, however, and bought it anyway. I have been elated ever since. This recording is marvelous, spacious, beautiful--everything, in short, that a Puccini opera should be. Caballe, playing the heroine, sings with glorious passion and tone; Carreras' portrayal of Cavardossi is definitive in its power and style; and Ingvar Wixell puts forth a deliciously villainous Scarpia. Additionally, Sir Colin Davis evokes a fine performance from both the Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Instrumental playing is excellent, yet never overshadows the singing when it should not. This may be the best opera recording that I own; I even find it preferable to Decca's _La Boheme_ with Freni and Pavarotti.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Certainly among the best, September 10, 1999

By A Customer

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

Carreras is awesome in this recording, certainly better to my ears than DiStefano. Caballe is not as strong as Callas, but then again nobody ever will be. Carreras rendition of "E lucevan le stelle" takes my breath away every time I hear it. His young voice was something to hear and this is a prime example. He was ideal for this role.