by Paul J. Pelkonen
Patricia Racette as Floria Tosca.
Image © 2009 The Metropolitan Opera.
This is yet another revival of the much-maligned Luc Bondy production which looks like it takes place in and around an industrial bakery. Although the sets may be ugly, tthe theatrical power of Tosca remains.
That's because this show's strength rests in Puccini's watch-spring of a score, which invokes time, place, and the rawest of human emotions. Tosca is the story of a soprano (no kidding, Floria Tosca is really an opera singer) and a cavalier young painter who come under the boot of Baron Scarpia, the evil chief of Rome's secret police. It runs red with torture, murder and a really big Act I finale that was once featured in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace.
This year, the first run of Toscas stars Patricia Racette, who wowed opera-goers in 2010 when she appeared in this production opposite Jonas Kaufmann and Bryn Terfel. Her Cavaradossi is Roberto Alagna. The second cast features Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role and tenor Marcello Giordani belting his best "Vittoria!" George Gagnidze is Scarpia in all performances.
Tosca opens Oct. 29. The second cast appears starting Dec. 11. A Live in HD performance is scheduled for Nov. 9.Recording Recommendations:
Recording Recommendations:
Coro e Orchestra della Scala cond. Victor de Sabata (EMI, 1953)
Floria Tosca: Maria Callas
Mario di Cavaradossi: Giuseppe di Stefano
Baron Scarpia: Tito Gobbi
The 1953 mono EMI set is the classic Maria Callas recording of Tosca. All of her affectations, flaws and nuances are present, in magnificent (and immediate) EMI mono sound. The "Vissi d'arte" is divine. Di Stefano had not yet begun his steep vocal decline, and Gobbi is a perfect bastard of a police chief. Accept no substitutes--not even her 1965 stereo remake with Carlo Bergonzi.
Note: Do not buy the 1997 remastered version in the black slipcase with the black-and-white Callas photo. The remastering engineer made a serious error, which made it onto some of the CDs. The problem was corrected on the 2009 pressing.
Vienna Philharmonic cond. Herbert von Karajan (Decca, 1962)
Floria Tosca: Leontyne Price
Mario di Cavaradossi: Giuseppe di Stefano
Baron Scarpia: Giuseppe Taddei
This is Leontyne Price's first recorded Tosca, and it remains a superb set. Although di Stefano had roughened over the nine years that separate these recordigs, he is still a tremendous presence as Cavaradossi. Ms. Price brings a different, compelling interpretation to the title role and Taddei is a nasty Scarpia. Herbert von Karajan and the Vienna forces make a formidable pairing, and their playing is inspired. So is the recording: an early example of the Decca Sonicstage technique developed by producer John Culshaw.
Tickets for Tosca are available at MetOperaFamily.Org, by calling (212) 362-6000, or at the box office starting August 11.
