Change Your Image
jeremy4497
Reviews
Tosca: In the Settings and at the Times of Tosca (1992)
Unprecedented
I watched this live on BBC2 in 1992, getting up in the small hours for the last act, and recorded it on VHS. I treasured the tape for years, watching it occasionally until it died. I've just ordered the DVD and am hugely looking forward to seeing it again.
To be honest it's probably a no better than average performance of Tosca. It's a bit experimental, and it doesn't always work perfectly. It would be beside the point to mention the bits which are a bit clunky, except to note the point in the first act when Domingo fell walking down a ramp - it turned out he broke his toe, but unless you know it happened you would never notice.
But it's on location! At the authentic times, in the authentic places! For an opera so connected with its historic milieu this is magnificent, and if you know Rome and the historical setting of the opera it's irresistible. And a lot of it is truly brilliant. The real star is Ruggero Raimondi, already wonderful in films of Don Giovanni and Carmen, he completely steals the opera as Scarpia, helped by production obviously aware how good he was. But the principals hold their own; the final act in particular doesn't need any excuses.
For all its rough edges this is unique. See it if you can.