TOSCA: DVD

CATALOGUE NO: OA 0901D
FORMAT: All Formats
REGIONS: All Regions
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
APPROX RUN TIME: 194 MINS
SOUND: DTS SURROUND / LPCM STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES
RELEASED: 01/07/2004
NO OF DISCS: 1

Puccini – Tosca

Genre: [ Opera ]

Daniela Dessì, Fabio Armiliato, Ruggero Raimondi
Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real
Conductor Maurizio Benini

Daniela Dessì takes the title role in Nuria Espert’s new production of Puccini's fiery Roman melodrama of lust, betrayal and revenge. Filmed in High Definition during January 2004 at the Teatro Real, and mixed in sumptuous 5.1 Surround Sound, this intense and atmospheric production rates among the finest stage performances ever captured for DVD of Puccini's operatic tour de force.

A new production by the internationally acclaimed director Nuria Espert for the Teatro Real, Madrid, in a beautifully intense and dramatic classical style. The lighting by Vinicio Cheli increases the atmosphere of a performance which is destined as a benchmark for twenty-first century productions. Based on the theatre play La Tosca, by Victorien Sardou and first performed at the Teatro Costanzi de Roma on 14th January 1900. Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa.

Plus

	Interviews with Daniela Dessì & Fabio Armiliato, Ruggero Raimondi, Maurizio Benini, and Nuria Espert
	Cast Gallery
	28 page, full colour booklet includes article by Tom Sutcliffe, synopsis and artists biographies

Reviews
‘...An absolutely magnificent cast of voices.’
El Mundo, Madrid

Rating: - Fine performance, on the trace of Callas
The performance of Madrid's Teatro Real TOSCA is worth to buy and watch. Orchestra is in good mood even that the tempos may be a little bit faster and with more passion (the final chords of Tosca and Scarpia meeting in Sant Andrea della Valle church). Dessi is a real Tosca with fine acting and very good singing. Her 2nd act aria is a lesson of legato and expression of music just as Puccini would like to hear. Armiliato as her lover Mario is a real suprise - excellent singer, best in both arias, but also in "Vittoria" in 2nd and "O dolci mani" in third act. The only weak link is Raimondi as Scarpia, even that the audiance cheers him mostly. His voice was never, from my opinion, the right one for this character (not comparable to the voices of Sherill Milnes or the best one Tito Gobbi), specially now when passed his prime (Te Deum is an example of loud singing only on the border of barking). The smaller parts are well done too. The scenary is appropriate grandious with some original solutions, specially in the 3th act. Listen, watch and enjoy!