Tosca (2001)

Benoit Jacquot's filmed Tosca treads a fine line between operatic staginess and cinematic 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 of the conceit with cutaways to the recording session itself--revealing conductor, orchestra, and soloists at work--thus a bridge is made between the on-screen action and the music-making itself, and the inherent duality of any opera production is laid refreshingly bare. The same cannot be said for the director's decision to interpolate spoken dialogue over the music in key places--a distraction, not an enhancement.

Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna are glamorous and attractive enough to make the most of their Hollywood-style close-ups; their singing easily bears similar close scrutiny--as anyone who owns the CD soundtrack album will surely already know. If Alagna lacks a little power as Cavaradossi on record, his charismatic screen presence happily compensates; while Gheorghiu is both vocally and physically almost ideal as Tosca. Ruggero Raimondi's Scarpia completes an outstanding trio; and in the pit (or, rather, in the studio) conductor Antonio Pappano handles the drama of Puccini's score without missing a single nuance. Both musically and visually, then, this is a Tosca to treasure. --Mark Walker Amazon.com

Entrancing

This DVD features two of my favorite singers. The singing is glorious, tender & heart-wrenching by both Gheorghiu and Alagna, as is their portrayal of their respective characters. Their sense of kindred spirit makes this opera come to life. January 20, 2008

Opera in all dimensions

I've watched this disc literally dozens of times, and (obviously) do not tire of its magnificent performances and music. Sometimes it is forgotten that a large part of opera's appeal lies in the drama; and to express that drama in a theatrical, movie-type vehicle makes a lot of sense. The wealth of facial and figural emotion, from Georghiu and Raimondi especially, expands the opera's impact greatly. The lip-syncing detracts not at all from the music and no doubt enabled the protagonists to concentrate more on their acting. The sets and camera shots enormously enhance the atmosphere; where have you seen a more real and chilling figure than Scarpia? To me Benoit's framing of the opera makes total sense; his skilled arrangement has created a thrilling piece of theatre that stands with the magnificently performed music to raise the piece to a new, higher level. January 18, 2008

A Movie,not an Opera

Although Angela Gheorghiu has a marvelous voice and although the other voices are adequate, the lipsinking in this movie really damages the experience of an opera.Also, as noted in another review the orchestration overpowers the singers. The flashbacks,the black and white sequences,the spoken parts and the cutaways to the orchestra,chorus and singers are so distracting as to make this almost unwatchable. I think I'll give my copy to the library. December 19, 2007

Best Tosca in years

Splendid film version, quite an interesting approach of Benoit Jacquot. Since the now classic Tosca of De Sabata, with Callas/Gobbi/DiStefano I had never been so impressed with a performance of this great opera.
Certainly the director takes some attributions (some perhaps too far) but at the end, it works perfectly. Advice: if you have not, first see a more standard Tosca and then take this one.
As for the singers, Alagna looks more as a bon vivant (Domingo wins here, a truly heroic "volterian") but his singing is passionate, specially at third act; but just look at Gheorghiu and Raimondi... what a pair! Raimondi stands as the most lascivious Scarpia ever (Gobbi, the best one, was cinical), and Gheorghiu seems to be born to sing Floria. This portrait, along with her Violeta Valery, is outstanding.
You can blame Jacquot for his arrogance, but when confronting with the intensity of Gheorghiu and Raimondi... well, this is a must for opera on DVD.
After Callas/Gobbi, this one. July 29, 2007

Wonderful Tosca film!

Although Anna Moffo is still my all-time favorite soprano, I greatly enjoy Angela Gheorghiu's performances. She is becoming quite a favorite of mine for an angelic voice and dramatic ability. Again, she is able to display wonderful dramatic instincts as Tosca. Her Tosca is vulnerable to love, jealous, defiant and self-sacrificing. Her voice is spectacular and is really able to transmit along with her body language all the above. And she's gorgeous here - just like in "La Traviata". Alagna has a charismatic presence and handsome voice. Phooey on the loggonisti at La Scala for booing him. By the way, he was outstanding in "Lucia di Lammermoor". Gheorghiu and Alagna are a truly terrific stage couple. Their chemistry is electric and lights up the screen. Raimondi was terrifyingly evil as Scarpia. He was mercilessly hateful towards his goal of possessing Tosca. One actually applauds when Tosca kills him while screaming "Die, Die!" The few b&w shots of the singers at the microphone and orchestra playing intermingled with the film which gave it an interesting look. This technique in no way detracted from the film. I found nothing wrong with the picture or sound quality from Kultur. I do wish they had added bonus features to the disc like previews of other operas or maybe interviews with the cast. March 25, 2007

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