Benoit Jacquot's filmedToscatreads a fine line between operatic staginess and cinematic ... more
contrivance. As per the libretto, each act takes place in a single setting, but with the singers here miming to a pre-recorded soundtrack. Jacquot freely reminds us...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Benoit Jacquot's filmedToscatreads a fine line between operatic staginess and cinematic ... more
contrivance. As per the libretto, each act takes place in a single setting, but with the singers here miming to a pre-recorded soundtrack. Jacquot freely reminds us...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Music / Performing Arts - Director: Lotfi Mansouri - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Yvonne Kenny, Boje Skovhus, Angelika Kirchschlager, Gregory Turay
Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
Production Year: 1992 - Music / Performing Arts - Director: Derek Bailey - Original Language: Italian - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Edita Gruberova, Giorgio Zancanaro, Neil Shicoff, Carlo Rizzi
Advantages: Kabaivanska at her (hardly recorded) best, Domingo is stunning Disadvantages: none
Beautifully filmed in the Roman Locations specified by Puccini this is a complete success. Kabaivanska was said to be the greatest Tosca of her generation and this film catches her in her absolute prime. Although there are several recordings of her performing Tosca, the live performances with Carreras (1976) and Pavarotti (1990), Kabaivanska is even finer on DVD. Her interacting with Domingo is great. Plácido Domingo is magnificent; he looks and sings in such a way that he really 'becomes' Cavaradossi (This probably sounds clichéd but I do not know a better way of describing how perfectly he gets into character). Sherrill Milnes is a superb Scarpia. This film conveys his virile voice and distinctive acting skills that made him so loved at the Met. Finally, the Orchestra with Bartoletti is very fine, especially when heard in such clear ...
Advantages: Arguably the best cast for this opera on disc Disadvantages: Some fans do not take to Callas' voice and the sound is old and mono
This is probably the single finest recording of Giacomo Puccini's opera "TOSCA". The combination of quality singers, a great conductor and an excellent orchestra make this a very worthwhile version to own. Maria Callas, that most controversial of sopranos, is famed for her portrayal as Floria Tosca with this arguably being the finer of her two 'official' recordings of the work. In 1953 when this was recorded Callas was arguably at her finest with a big strong voice full of colour and without some of those infamous wiry high notes. She seems aware of all the different facets of her character and this makes for an exciting and interesting listen - compare the full voice screams and drama during her confrontation with Tito Gobbi's unsurpassed Baron Scarpia and the muted, tender "Vissi d'arte" one of the most beautiful arias in all opera ...
operalover2000 04.04.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Puccini: Tosca
Advantages: A visual masterpiece Disadvantages: Overlong and slighly naff
for bigger and better things as her portrayal in both movies received such acclaim; however she rejected Hollywood and stuck with smaller roles in Italian cinema.
Ian Charleson is probably best remembered for his role of Eric in Chariots of Fire and also stared in hits like Car Trouble with Julie Walters and Greystoke. Charleson was more of a stage presence and was told that his performance of Hamlet was the best that Sir Ian McKellen had ever seen. Charleson openly came out as being gay no sooner had Chariots of Fire hit the screen. When he accepted the Role in Terror at the Opera he was feeling quite ill and realised that something was seriously wrong. Charleson vowed to do something far removed from his previous work and was a big fan of Dario Argento so continued with the project. Shortly after filming he fell even more ill was diagnosed ...
A film version of Puccini's opera Tosca sung in Italian. Musical direction by Antonio Pappano.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
OPUS ARTE MEDIA PRODUCTIONS; SELECT MUSIC & VIDEO DISTRIBUTION
Release date
30/06/2003
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
OA 0883 D
Barcode
0809478000723
Composer
Giacomo Puccini
Languages
Main Language
Italian
Subtitle Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu Discusses Her Role, Director Benoit Jacquot Discusses His Creation, Antonio Pappano Discusses The Music Of Puccini For The Opera, Illustrated Booklet With Biographies In English And Spanish
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Wide Screen
Sound
DTS 5.1 Surround, Linear PCM Stereo
Dubbing Sound
DTS 5.1 Surround Italian Linear PCM Stereo Italian
Professional reviews
Review
"...[Jacquot] conveys the heaving passion of Puccini's famous love-jealousy-murder-suicide fandango with great cinematic innovation..." (Entertainment Weekly, p.50, 09/08/2002)
"...Imaginative, visually stunning....It's a colorful, energetic evening of theater..." (Hollywood Reporter, p.18-20, 02/04/2002)
"...Altogether, this is successful as a film, while at the same time being a most touching reconsideration of the familiar masterpiece..." (Los Angeles Times, p.C12, 02/08/2002)
"...It works beautifully as a movie without sacrificing the integrity of the opera..." (New York Times, p.E32, 12/07/2002)
"...In musical terms, it is hard to imagine it done better today..." (Sight and Sound, p.54-5, 01/05/2002)
DVD Description
French director Benoit Jacquot (A SINGLE GIRL) adapts the famous opera by Giacomo Puccini in his film TOSCA. The stunningly dramatic opera stars--Angela Gheorghiu as Floria Tosca, Roberto Alagna as Mario Cavaradossi, and Ruggero Raimondi as Baron Scarpia--who steal the show with their intense vocal range and fiery acting. The film cuts back and forth between black and white photography that shows the singers and a full orchestra recording the opera in a studio, and color photography that shows the costumed presentation, act by act, with several different sets. Mario (Alagna) is painting a portrait on the wall of the chapel, inspired by a fair-haired beauty who he has just seen praying below. When his girlfriend, the possessive Diva Tosca (Gheorghiu) pays him a surprise visit, he must reassert his love for her, trying to ease her worries and her jealousy at seeing the painting. However, that night when a prisoner escapes, Mario is a suspected accomplice and he is wanted by the police. The evil Baron Scarpia (Raimondi) lies to Tosca, telling her that Mario ran off with the fair-haired beauty, and using her jealousy to get her to aid the police in his capture. This film was included in the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2002 festival organized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City.
Compare Tosca - Puccini (Subtitled) (Wide Screen) (DVD) to other similar Musicals & Music Films »
![Puccini: Tosca -- 2002 Film Version [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78526113.jpg)
