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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
With the cast asembled for this production, Jonas Kaufmann as Cavadarossi, Emily Magee as Tosca, Thomas Hampson as Scarpia,Valeriy Murga as Angelotti and Guiseppe Scorsin as Sacristan it should have been spectacular. I can't fault the cast their performances were without doubt memorable, the singing absolutely beautiful. Jonas Kaufmann's performance as ever charismatic, Emily Magee a wonderful Tosca and Thomas Hampson an excellent Scarpia. However, Robert Carsen's staging managed to take this production from what should have been a five star event to something far less. Not even the most devoted opera fan could rate this a five, for the most part it is difficult to see the action there is a dark dismal set on opening which is repeated for the most part throughout the three acts, and with minimalist sets. I do question why Carsen felt it necessary to change the essence of Tosca. I am sorry to have to say that I dislike this production but what lifts it from the ordinary is Jonas Kaufmann who as always seems to inahbit the skin of the part he plays, and vocally he is magnificent as Cavadarossi; for this reason alone this DVD is a must have.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
This is a remarkable treat, and worth it, especially if you like me couldn't get tickets for the ROH's latest Tosca with the star cast Kaufmann's performance finds new depths in Cavaradossi, who can seem brainless if sung less intelligently. He's vocally at the absolute top of his game, and I've never heard the big numbers managed better, but what also stands out is his subtle acting. It's clear that he doesn't think torture will bother him, but that's he's utterly broken by it; it's clear that he doesn't believe Tosca about the sham execution. I'm beginning to think that Kaufmann is not only a star for now, but one of those singers we'll all remember hearing for generations, like Caruso or Hans Hotter. He may not only be the best tenor of now, but one of the best of all time. Emily Magee is great as well, a refulgent stage presence, and vocally completely secure. Nothing wrong with Scarpia, but for once the opera doesn't belong to him. The staging is annoying, but not extremely so, and the fine detail of the direction is excellent. Warmly recommended.
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful
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I won't waste much time discussing this quite problematic stage production seen in the Zürich Opera House. Robert Carsen is well known by now for his "original" ideas. He is not always wrong and in some instances, even in this Tosca, illuminates aspects of the story as never before. But his vision of a kind of theatrical Tosca within a Tosca pretty soon descends into sheer silliness. We have a prosceniun arch on the stage most of the times -gone are the church, Palazzo Farnese and Castel Sant'Angelo- and everything seems to go around a grand diva of the theatre, a kind of glamorous celebrity only worried about her own persona. One could argue that in many ways that is the Tosca envisioned by Puccini. But nobody without a previous knowledge of the story, having seen another more "conventional" staging, would have a clue about what's going on here. This is a Tosca that is elevated towards heaven in her own Te Deum and a Tosca that commits suicide throwing herself to the orchestral pit imagined at the back of the stage. Go figure. Thank God we have Jonas Kaufmann, a true wonder, the greatest Cavaradossi I have ever encountered, live or on record, with the ringing healhy tone of a Corelli and a tender mezzavoce and piano phrasing that brings memories of the best Carreras and only by himself could save the occasion and make this night truly unforgettable. He is also a great actor, someone that seems to live each role he takes. The result in this instance is almost miraculous. Thomas Hampson creates a suave and elegant Scarpia, perhaps more terrifying because of that than the usual truculent fiend, and is quite believable as a character. I don't think it challenges Tito Gobbi vocally, but his is nevertheless a substantial interpretation. I didn't know American soprano Emily Magee, but I should have. She exhibits a good voice and is dramatically involved, creating in her first attempt a serviceable Tosca, without being truly memorable. Unfortunately, and although this probably wasn't a problem in the opera house, to the unforgiving scrutiny of the video camera she doesn't look nearly as attractive as her very handsome Cavaradossi or her refined Scarpia. She is a good-looking mature woman and I would hate to sound unkind, but she does not fit the bill for Carsen's vision of Tosca as the ultimate glamorous goddess, a sort of Ava Gardner of the stage. And to my mind this in not a minor quibble in a production in which even the bishops kneel in front of her. Garignani conducts without bringing much attention to the orchestra. But this is the tenor's hour. You have to have it just because of Kaufmann's Cavaradossi. Now, I need to see him in an unoriginal staging, one in which I am not continually distracted from his moving rendering by production's whims.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
wonderful tosca
Have always loved the music to tosca and to see Jonas and Emily performing it is wonderful. What a handsome couple they are.
Published 2 months ago by flower1
AMERICAN SOPRANO EMILY MAGEE IS EXCELLENT AS FLORIA TOSCA
This is a most excellent Tosca production on dvd filmed at the Zurich Opera House during April 2009. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. W. J. Wright
Disappointing Tosca
Excellent singers but tacky staging, had I paid attention and seen that this was a Zurich Opernhaus production I never would have bought this DVD,
Published 7 months ago by Serge Cavanna
A different way to look at Tosca.
It is always a positive step when you can step out of your comfort zone and look at a opera, without preconceived prejuices. You view the work in a different light. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ultrarunner
Ooops!!! It's Cavaradossi time , not Tosca's...
Despite the title this production's real name should be "Mario Cavaradossi" and not "Tosca". Actually it was focused more on Jonas Kaufmann playing Cavaradossi rather than on... Read more
Published 12 months ago by katef
Beautifully acted and sung but not "Tosca".
Tosca has to be my favourite Opera of all so I am always keen to see any new production. For me it epitomises high drama with music. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Mc Warwick
la Tosca de Carsen
Tosca est un des opéras les plus célèbres et les plus joués de par le monde. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Daniel Zehnacker
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