Tosca - Giacomo Puccini
Information about the opera Tosca by Giacomo Puccini, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Puccini's highly emotional masterpiece.
Recommended recordings on CD
Sabata/Callas/Stefano (EMI Classics 7243 585 644-2)
A version of Tosca (c. Sabata) at budget price with no printed libretto.
Milan La Scala Orchestra, Milan La Scala Chorus, conducted by Victor De Sabata, 1953.
Cast: Maria Callas (Tosca), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Cavaradossi), Tito Gobbi (Scarpia), Franco Calabrese (Angelotti).
EMI Classics 7243 585 644-2 (mono)
Davis/Caballé/Carreras (Philips 438 359-2)
One of the best stereo Toscas.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis, 1976.
Cast: Montserrat Caballé (Tosca), José Carreras (Cavaradossi), Ingvar Wixell (Scarpia), Samuel Ramey (Angelotti).
Philips 438 359-2
Sabata/Callas/Stefano (EMI Classics 7243 CDS5 56304-2)
Simply the finest Tosca on record.
Milan La Scala Orchestra, Milan La Scala Chorus, conducted by Victor De Sabata, 1953.
Cast: Maria Callas (Tosca), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Cavaradossi), Tito Gobbi (Scarpia), Franco Calabrese (Angelotti).
EMI Classics 7243 CDS5 56304-2 (mono)
Recommended recordings on DVD
Pappano/Gheorghiu/Alagna (Opus Arte OA 0883 D)
Mingles shots of the recording sessions at Abbey Road studios with a film of the singers miming in costume, but the result is surprisingly effective and moving.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano, 2003.
Cast: Angela Gheorghiu (Tosca), Roberto Alagna (Cavaradossi), Ruggero Raimondi (Scarpia), Maurizio Muraro (Angelotti).
Opus Arte OA 0883 D
Oren/Cedolins/Alvarez (TDK 102 158)
A stunning 2006 production staged at the Arena di Verona, an outdoor theater built into the ruins of a public building dating from 30AD. The best modern Tosca on DVD.
Verona Teatro Arena Chorus, Verona Teatro Arena Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Oren, 2006.
Cast: Fiorenza Cedolins (Tosca), Marcelo Alvarez (Cavaradossi), Ruggero Raimondi (Scarpia), Marco Spotti (Angelotti).
TDK 102 158
Also included in the boxed set:
Magic Moments of Opera