Puccini - Tosca / Kabaivanska, Domingo, Milnes, Luccardi, Mariotti, Bartoletti

Starring: Raina Kabaivanska, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Giancarlo Luccardi, Alfredo Mariotti

Deutsche Grammophon, 1976, DVD

Product Description

Opera is an inherently theatrical medium that does not lend itself readily to the realism of film treatment. The shining exception is Puccini's Tosca, an action-packed melodrama that unfolds in three taut and gripping acts like the meatiest of Hollywood films noir. And unlike most operas, these three acts are set in three very specific Roman locales. Thus this 1976 film takes place in the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle (Act 1), the Palazzo Farnese (Act 2), and the Castel Sant'Angelo (Act 3). The evocative settings, however, would be mere window-dressing if the cast wasn't just right. Fortunately Plácido Domingo is at his virile peak in the heroic tenor role of Cavaradossi; Raina Kabaivanska is a sultry, vocally beautiful Tosca; and a more infamous and domineering Scarpia than that of Sherrill Milnes can hardly be imagined. Bruno Bartoletti and the New Philharmonia Orchestra give lustily dramatic support. Here the music and vocals are prerecorded and the singers mime to the playback. Occasionally the result is a little unnatural, but overall the cast members are good enough actors to bring off the conceit even in the close-ups. It all pays off triumphantly with the gripping realism of the rooftop finale, the one place where film can improve on stage. With the authenticity of the settings assured and such distinguished leads singing so well, this is an almost ideal filmed Tosca. — Mark Walker

Product Details

Title: Puccini - Tosca / Kabaivanska, Domingo, Milnes, Luccardi, Mariotti, Bartoletti
Sales Rank: 17720 in Music
Actor: Raina Kabaivanska, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Giancarlo Luccardi, Alfredo Mariotti
Director: Gianfranco De Bosio
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon, 2005-06-14, Theatrical Release: 1976
Format: Classical, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.33:1
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 115 minutes
Package Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.35 x 0.63 inches, 0.26 pounds

Customer Reviews

Beautiful performance: If you don't mind a movie version of an opera, then this is a great production to enjoy. It takes place in the actual spots designated in the libretto and is very realistic even though the characters are singing instead of speaking. The costumes are beautiful and very authentic. The singers were all in their prime physically and vocally and give powerful performances.… More reviews

Wonderful: All principals are top-notch, wonderful singers and actors. The settings are gorgeous and authentic.
Great opera film!
Highly recommended!… More reviews

A virtually perfect Tosca, no doubt about it.: Puccini's reputation as a verismo composer is based primarily on La Boheme - a wonderful opera, but neither typical nor his best. His last opera was Turandot, and there's nothing of verismo about it - a grand, grand opera, a fairytale opera, an opera of princesses and princes. Sometimes I lean toward considering Turandot Puccini's best.
However, most of the time I can't overcome the notion… More reviews

Real drama!: In this production, the villians are really villians, the lovers oh so much in love and the real settings amplify the drama. The performances are outstanding and the direction subtle or in your face as and when it needs to be. I am marginally disappointed with the quality of the sound but prehaps I need to explore some settings on my system. More reviews

OUTSTANDING!: This is the best "Tosca" in movie. Actually, the other video recordings available are of lesser quality, v.g., that insipid movie with the "satin doll" Gheorgiu and her anodyne and boring screamer-husband. There is also a Corelli's "Tosca", which is not problematic because of the singer, but because they substituted (I think for aesthetic reasons) La Caniglia for an actress,… More reviews