Puccini: Tosca / Scotto, Domingo, Bruson; Levine

1. Tosca, opera
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
with Itzhak Perlman , Renato Bruson , Renato Capecchi , John Cheek , Placido Domingo , Paul Hudson , Dominick Martinez
Conducted by James Levine

Puccini: Tosca / Scotto, Domingo, Bruson; Levine,Giacomo Puccini,Renata Scotto,Plácido Domingo,James Levine,Philharmonia Orchestra,Renato Bruson,John Cheek,Renato Capecchi,Paul Hudson,Ambrosian Opera Chorus,Angel Records,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

Puccini: Tosca / Scotto, Domingo, Bruson; Levine
Average customer rating:

Scotto Is Tosca!

This One Is For Fans Of Renata Scotto And Placido Domingo

Fabulous Tosca

This is the best Tosca of the digital era

A Great Tosca!

Puccini: Tosca / Scotto, Domingo, Bruson; Levine
Giacomo Puccini , Renata Scotto , Plácido Domingo , James Levine , Philharmonia Orchestra , Renato Bruson , John Cheek , Renato Capecchi , Paul Hudson , and Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Levine, James | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Scotto, Renata | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002SAJ
Release Date: 1997-09-30

Tracks:

Ah! Finalmente!
Dammi I Colori ... Recondita Armonia
Gente La Dentro!
Mario! Mario! Mario!
Ah, Quegli Occhi!.../Quale Occhio Al Mondo Puo Star Di Paro
E Buona La Mia Tosca
Un Tal Baccano In Chiesa!
Or Tutto E Chiaro.../Tosca? Che Non Mi Veda/Mario! Mario!
Ed Io Venivo A Lui Tutta Dogliosa
Tre Sbirri, Una Carrozza...

Tracks:

Tosca E Un Buon Falco!
Ha Piu Forte...
Meno Male!
Dov'e Dunque Angelotti?
Ed Or Fra Noi Parliamo Da Buoni Amici/Sciarrone, Che Dice Il Cavalier?
Orsu, Tosca, Parlate
Floria? ... Amore ...
Vittoria! Vittoria!
Se La Giurata Fede
Vissi d'Arte
Vedi, Le Man Giunte Io Stendo A Te!
E Qual Via Scegliete?
Io De'Sospiri
Mario Cavaradossi? A Voi
E Lucevan Le Stelle
Franchigia A Floria Tosca...
O Dolci Mani
E Non Giungono...
Com'e Lunga L'attesa!
Mario, Su, Presto!

Customer Reviews:

Scotto Is Tosca!.......2007-07-14

I'll be brief, there are dozens of recordings of this "Shabby Little Shocker," and everyone has their favorite, Callas it seems, always rises to the top of the heap, and there are those who will argue for this or that recording due to X,Y or Z, but Scotto owns this role. She is Tosca! Puccini himself would have wooed her. You never doubt for a moment that this is a woman who can survive the torture and eventual death of her lover due to a double-crossing villian, an attempted rape, commit murder, and finally suicide in what has to be one of the greatest endings and last lines in all of opera. Scotto is visceral, a true blood and guts Tosca, very much an artist, very much a woman, a force that can rip your heart out or fall vulnerable at your feet. Scotto's VISSI D'ARTE, that plaintive plea to heaven, is achingly beautiful and heartbreaking in its intensity. Domingo and Bruson, conducted beautifully by James Levine, lend solid support, but this is Scotto's show and she lets you know it.

This One Is For Fans Of Renata Scotto And Placido Domingo.......2006-01-12

Recorded in 1980 for EMI, this Tosca stars Renata Scotto and Placido Domingo in his second recorded Tosca. Also stars Renato Bruson and is conducted under the baton of James Levine. Fans of the principal singers will not hesitate to buy this one. Particularly impressive is Placido Domingo's Mario Cavaradossi, not to diminish the fine work of Scotto as Tosca, though she is not to everyone's tastes. Like Maria Callas, Renata Scotto was a controversial singer. Some found her strident, melodramatic and unsubtle. Her Tosca may not compare in beauty of tone like Renata Tebaldi or Leontyne Price, but she could get to the essence of the character immediately. Act 1 has some beautiful singing by her part and in Act 2, she colors and shades her voice to effectively portray despair, horror and murderous rage. She is a different animal than the Toscas most audiophiles are ued to. But her big dramatic voice is very Italian and perfectly built for the role. I think her Murder of Scarpia scene is well done as is the Final Scene in which she jumps from the Castel San Angelo. Renata Scotto has a rich, sultry voice with power and compelling dramatic thrust. Her "Vissi D'Arte" is radiant. Hers is a Tosca that is underrated but it is absolutely gorgeous. Even if her high register tends to wobble (so did Callas) it is a beautiful voice from top to bottom.

Placido Domingo's Cavaradossi on this recording is the all-around best. This Cavaradossi is better than his first recorded one with Leontyne Price for RCA in 1973 and the later one in 1990 with Mirella Freni for Deutsche Grammophone. Here, he employ all the techniques that was his claim to fame- a gleaming top, a baritonal quality, a dark edginess and masculine power. He is also a consummate vocal actor. The E Lucevan La Stelle is a rapture as is the "Vittoria!". The love duets are audial feasts and the music climaxes and swells with passion. Levine knew how to deliver good music with enough beauty and power to make an opera more than one-dimensional. Unfortunately, Renato Bruson is the weak link here. His Scarpia is nothing special. It's bland, it lacks power and magnitude. But get this for Domingo and Scotto. A must have and a bargain price

Fabulous Tosca.......2002-11-29

This is the very best of the modern Tosca recordings. The 1953 Callas recording and the second Tebaldi recording are in a class by themselves. Scotto is, however, very much their equal and delivers a very compelling portrait of the jealous diva. Her voice is in late prime condition and she shades and colors it very effectively, especially in the heat of Act II. Domingo is at his very best - lots of squillo and very involved - his best recording of the role (out of three studio readings). Bruson is in magnificent voice and is a quite scary Scarpia indeed. Levine shapes the score with care, not dragging things out as he is often inclined to do. In summary, do not hesitate to buy this very intense and gorgeous performance of Tosca.

This is the best Tosca of the digital era.......2000-11-23

Though I agree that the Callas/De Sabata and the Price/Karajan Toscas are the best recordings ever made of this opera, there is still much greatness in this recording and it is certainly worth hearing. First of all Scotto gives a tremendous performance in the title role, one of the most compelling ever. It's true that her voice was not meant for this music, and some loud notes are less than beautiful, but her commitment and determination are admirable, no soprano after her is even worth hearing as Tosca (Te Kanawa? Vaness? Gheorghiu?). Domingo is in fine voice and delivers the goods with aplomb. And Bruson is a different Scarpia. He certainly is not a singing actor as Gobbi or Taddei, but his opulent gorgeous voice is very, very nice to hear. All in all, this is the best Tosca of the digital era, and considering the kind of sopranos we have now (Studer, Gheorghiu) it's likely to remain so for many, many years.

A Great Tosca!.......2000-06-12

I thought it only fair to include another opinion of this recording. I also own the Callas and Price versions, which I love, but if you are a Scotto fan, you will definitely want this recording along side the others. Scotto, as always, sings with so much passion and desperation. She really puts across all of Tosca's extreme emotions. Her high C's are all secure and strong. Domingo of course sounds great, and Levine's conducting is very forceful. A very exciting and satifying performance.

Average customer rating:

An Outstanding Performance
A truly sensatinal journey with Puccini

Puccini: Tosca (Highlights)

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Verdi: Aida (Highlights)

ASIN: B00004ZDLF
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Tracks:

Act I: Ah! Finalmente! - John Cheek/Renato Capecchi/Placido Domingo
Act I: Dammi I Colori! - Placido Domingo/Renato Capecchi
Act I: Mario! Mario! Mario! - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo
Act I: Ah, Quegli Occhi! - Placido Domingo/Renata Scotto
Act I: Tre Sbirri, Una Carrozza - Renata Bruson/Andrea Velis
Act II: Orsu, Tosca, Parlate - Renato Bruson/Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo
Act II: Floria!...Amore - Placido Domingo/Renata Scotto/Renato Bruson
Act II: Vittoria! Vittoria! - Placido Domingo/Renata Scotto/Renato Bruson
Act II: Se La Giurata Fede - Renato Bruson/Renata Scotto
Act II: Vissi D'Arte - Renata Scotto
Act II: Vedi, La Man Giunte Io Stendo A Te! - Renata Scotto/Renato Bruson/Andrea Velis
Act II: E Qual Via Scegliete? - Renato Bruson/Renata Scotto
Act III: Io De' Sospiri - Dominick Martinez
Act III: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
Act III: Franchigia A Floria Tosca - Placido Domingo/Renata Scotto
Act III: O Dolce Mani - Placido Domingo/Renata Scotto
Act III: E Non Giungono - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo/Itzhak Perlman
Act III: Com' E Lunga L'attesa! - Renata Scotto
Act III: Presto, Su! Mario! - Renata Scotto/Paul Hudson/Andrea Velis

Customer Reviews:

An Outstanding Performance.......2001-07-17

I possess the complete version of this recording and I am still astounded by the outstanding singing on this recording. Renata Scotto is considerably well suited to many Puccini roles and this recording proves to be one of her greatest. However, I warn the uniniated that Scotto's has a very large vibrato and if you don't want to hear her sing "Vissi d'arte" with it, then don't buy this.

Alongside her, in the role of her beloved Cavaradossi, Placido Domingo gives an excellent performance. His "E Lucevan e stelle" is one of the most moving that I have heard and stands right along with Giuseppe di Stefano in the classic 1953 recording with Maria Callas and Tito Gobbi.

However, I reserve my praise for the Scarpia on this CD. Renato Bruson gives us an astounding, spine-tingling interpretation of one of the greatest villains in opera. When he sings his great aria at the end of Act I (Tre Sbirri una carozza) one feels one's spine tingling. With all the other interpretations that I have heard over many years on the radio and in the theater, this interpretation still stands out as one of the best and most accurate.

James Levine leads the orchestra with great verve and his insight into the score is undeniable particularly in the many lyric passages of this opera.

An excellent recording of the highest order!

A truly sensatinal journey with Puccini.......2001-01-07

Tosca's premier was held in 1900, that is a century ago. The love story of Tosca and Cavaradossi is still alive in every opera fan's heart. I recommend this CD to every one who loves Opera or just enjoy the story of the young and fair Tosca. One of the best aria performance in ACT II,.

Average customer rating:

Puccini: Tosca

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RQ6
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Ah! Finalmente!
Dammi I Colori ... Recondita Armonia
Gente La Dentro!
Mario! Mario! Mario!
Ah, Quegli Occhi!.../Quale Occhio Al Mondo Puo Star Di Paro
E Buona La Mia Tosca
Un Tal Baccano In Chiesa!
Or Tutto E Chiaro.../Tosca? Che Non Mi Veda/Mario! Mario!
Ed Io Venivo A Lui Tutta Dogliosa
Tre Sbirri, Una Carrozza...

Tracks:

Tosca E Un Buon Falco!
Ha Piu Forte...
Meno Male!
Dov'e Dunque Angelotti?
Ed Or Fra Noi Parliamo Da Buoni Amici/Sciarrone, Che Dice Il Cavalier?
Orsu, Tosca, Parlate
Floria? ... Amore ...
Vittoria! Vittoria!
Se La Giurata Fede
Vissi d'Arte
Vedi, Le Man Giunte Io Stendo A Te!
E Qual Via Scegliete?
Io De'Sospiri
Mario Cavaradossi? A Voi
E Lucevan Le Stelle
Franchigia A Floria Tosca...
O Dolci Mani
E Non Giungono...
Com'e Lunga L'attesa!
Mario, Su, Presto!

Opera for Pleasure: Puccini's Tosca (Highlights)

Average customer rating:

brava Scotto

Opera for Pleasure: Puccini's Tosca (Highlights)

Manufacturer: Classics for Pleasur
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000I6OV
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Tracks:

Dammi I Colori
Mario! Mario! Mario!
Ah, Quegli Occhi!
Tre Sbirri, Una Carrozza... Te Deum...
Floria!...Amore
Vittoria! Vittoria!
Se La Giurata Fede
Vissi D'Arte
Vedi, Le Man Giunte Io Stendo A Te!
E Qual Via Scegliete?
E Lucevan Le Stelle
Franchigia A Floria Tosca
O Dolci Mani
E Non Giungono
Com'E Lunga L'Attesa!
Presto, Su! Mario!

Customer Reviews:

brava Scotto.......2001-07-09

Renata Scotto is wonderful here. Her Tosca is passionate and moving. As with most Scotto performances, it's sometimes difficult to understand the lyrics as she has a very broad and rounded style of singing. She is however in good voice and sings with great feeling and passion. Domingo is also quite good, His E Lucevan Le Stelle, much different than other tenors. Quite slow and more on the sad side than passionate. As with most scarpia's.. he tends to scream a lot.. although he does have some nice moments. All in all.. the music is great.. Scotto is in great form.. I would recommend this recording. It's an often missed but wonderful addition to any collection.

Average customer rating:

Tosca's Greatest Moments: Renata Scotto Sizzles
Except for the lightweight Scarpia, a great Tosca

Puccini:Tosca

Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Scotto, Renata | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RSH
Release Date: 1991-11-08

Tracks:

Act I: Dammi I Colori - Placido Domingo/Renato Capecchi
Act I: Mario! Mario! Mario! - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo
Act I: Ah, Quegli Occhi! - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo
Act I: Tre Sbirri, Una Carrozza - Renato Bruson/Andrea Velis/Ambrosian Opr Chor/John McCarthy
Act II: Floria!...Amore - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo/Renato Bruson/Paulk Hudson
Act II: Vittoria! Vittoria! - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo/Renato Bruson
Act II: Se La Giurata Fede - Renata Scotto/Renato Bruson
Act II: Vissi D'Arte - Renata Scotto
Act II: Vedi, Le Man Giunte Lo Stendo A Te! - Renata Scotto/Renato Bruson/Andrea Velis
Act II: E Qual Via Scegliete? - Renata Scotto/Renato Bruson
Act III: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
Act III: Franchigia A Floria Tosca - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo
Act III: O Dolci Mani - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo
Act III: E Non Giungono - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo/Itzhak Perlman
Act III: Com'e Lunga L'Attesta - Renata Scotto
Act III: Mario, Su, Presto! - Renata Scotto/Placido Domingo/Paul Hudson/Ambrosian Opr Chor/John McCarthy

Customer Reviews:

Tosca's Greatest Moments: Renata Scotto Sizzles.......2005-11-08

For a time in the late 1970's, Italian soprano Renata Scotto was the reigning diva at the Met. She was known to be quite temperamental and every bit the diva of stereotypical myth. When she appeared on the first televised broadcast of a Met opera, cameras followed her back to her dressing room and she was seen shouting obscenities and criticizing everyone from her co-stars to the producers. She was a small woman in stature but her voice was gargantuan and even quite similar to Maria Callas. This comparison would haunt her for the rest of her career. She took on all the lead roles of the Italian repertoire, her strongest suit- Mimi in La Boheme, Violetta in La Traviata, and of course Puccini's Tosca on this studio recording. This is actually a set of highlights from the EMI full-length recording. It's conducted by James Levine who championed Scotto and knew her strengths and weaknesses. Mario Cavaradossi is sung superbly by Placido Domingo who was not singing the role for the firt time and by this time had sung it numerous times through the 70's - the RCA 1973 studio recording with Leontyne Price and Sherill Milnes, and the 1975 film with Raina Kabaivanska. Here, he is blessed with the experience of the role and is in outstanding vocal shape, able to sing beautifully in "Ricondita Armonia" and dramatically in his denouncement of Scarpia "Vittoria!". The villainous Vitellio Scarpia is sung by the light-weight baritone Renato Bruson. True, his bel canto/Verdi voice is not suited for the more verisimo-like, dramatic and heavyweight voice for Puccini. His Scarpia is by far the weakest I've ever heard. Even Dietrich Fischer Dieskau's sounds a lot more dramatic and focused. Here he sings every line as if it were a concert aria instead of an opera aria. Pity they couldn't have cast any of the outstanding baritones capable of a fine Scarpia who were singing at this time- Justino Diaz, Ruggero Raimondi, Juan Pons, Ingvar Wixell and Samuel Ramey. But it is Renat Scotto's portrayal of the passionate titular diva that is worth the purchase. Scotto may lack the tonal beauty of Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price and Montserrat Caballe but her dramatically compelling voice is perfect for the emotional scope of the role. She is singing with electrifying bravura! Just listen to the entire Act 2 and 3! Without a doubt, this is one of the better Toscas out there. But if you insist on searching or collecting other Toscas go for the following (and I'm omitting Callas because everyone knows how great she is and it's time to hear other voices) - Leontyne Price, Birgit Nilsson, Montserrat Caballe, Raina Kabaivanska, Galina Vishnevskaya, Katia Ricciarelli, Eva Marton, Carol Vanness and Angela Gheorghiu.

Except for the lightweight Scarpia, a great Tosca.......2005-10-30

Buying this highlights disc, which contains all the famous moments from the opera, will tell you if you want to acquie the complete set. This is a riveting performance, superbly conducted by the young James Levine in 1980. Domingo is in thrilling voice as Cavaradossi, as is Scotto in the title role, though you will have to accept her pronounced wobble when she holds a high note at forte or above. That mattered little to me, given hre gripping portrayal, arugably the most exciting since Callas, although neither can remotely boast the vocal beauty of Leontyne Price.

This would be a top-choice Tosca if it weren't for Renato Bruson, a lightweight baritone Scarpia. Why he was cast instead of a bass-baritone is mystifying; personally I dislike his dry tone, which has neither meance, power, nor lyric seductiveness. But he is an admired artist, and other listeners may disagree with me. In any eent, this is an imaginative and highly musical reading of a warhorse that badly needs both qualities.