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From Amazon.co.uk
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; 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.
On the DVD: Tosca on disc looks vibrant in this warm, widescreen picture accompanied by a DTS 5.1 soundtrack. Three filmed interviews--with Gheorghiu, Pappano and Jacquot--provide some insight into the making of this production. --Mark Walker
Review
''brings this opera vividly to life this is a classic of the future.'' --The Guardian
''Gheorghiu gives a performance that cuts to the core of Puccini's tragedy... Pappano's conducting; a rich reading that conjures the ideal mixture of syrup and bitterness.'' --Independent on Sunday
A cinematic package that warrants repeated viewing. --Gramophone,Apr'12
''Gheorghiu gives a performance that cuts to the core of Puccini's tragedy... Pappano's conducting; a rich reading that conjures the ideal mixture of syrup and bitterness.'' --Independent on Sunday
A cinematic package that warrants repeated viewing. --Gramophone,Apr'12
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Wonderful signing - dreadful production
This film is a disappointment, there is fantastic singing and acting from Angela Gheorghiu a wonderful performance. The direction by Benoit Jacquot is best described as student arthouse, it presents as a low cost effort. The big scenes are pathetic. The action switches from a wet Wednesday in a recording studio to semi staged studio action - could have worked put poorly delivered. The Te Deum is filmed by the camera continuously rotating around Scarpia (no other actors are shown) and ends with what is supposed to be a terrifying facial, however the viewer is so dizzy you want to switch the wretched thing off.
The production is distracting in the extreme.
This film is a disappointment, there is fantastic singing and acting from Angela Gheorghiu a wonderful performance. The direction by Benoit Jacquot is best described as student arthouse, it presents as a low cost effort. The big scenes are pathetic. The action switches from a wet Wednesday in a recording studio to semi staged studio action - could have worked put poorly delivered. The Te Deum is filmed by the camera continuously rotating around Scarpia (no other actors are shown) and ends with what is supposed to be a terrifying facial, however the viewer is so dizzy you want to switch the wretched thing off.
The production is distracting in the extreme.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs Pisaroni
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I fully agree with the positive reviewers regarding this production and feel that the poo-poohers are being a tad 'old fashioned' in their criticism, as well as letting themselves down for their obvious lack of concentrational skills.
This is a new way of filming opera and it works brilliantly, not least with the out and in character shots where the singers record their roles as the opera progresses. I also thought that the brief spoken parts were extremely evocative, in particular that between Tosca and Cavaradossi when she expressed her jealousy over his painting and he reassures her of how much he worships and adores her. The off screen lovers Alagna and Gheorghiu bring an added depth to this love and their kisses have added emotion. As Scarpia, Ruggero Raimondi is physically terrifying, his saturnine good looks combined with his icy stare sending shivers down the spine and bringing to the fore all of Scarpia's twisted sexuality. A bravura performance from a magnificent artist. Gheorghiu plays the coquettish spitfire that is Floria Tosca to perfection and her voice has seldom been more soaring and pure. Alagna wrenches the heart. A triumphant Cavaradossi.
Any doubters should watch the three added extras:interveiws with Gheorghiu, the director, and 'Maestro' Antonio Pappano. To question the Royal Opera House's intelligence in being involved with the film is ridiculous-they obviously were in agreement with what was going on and 'Maestro' Pappano himself is very enthusiastic about the project and what it achieves. This 'Tosca' is vibrant, dark, sensual and evil all rolled in to one. A version to watch more than once to relish each nuance. Puccini would have been PROUD.
This is a new way of filming opera and it works brilliantly, not least with the out and in character shots where the singers record their roles as the opera progresses. I also thought that the brief spoken parts were extremely evocative, in particular that between Tosca and Cavaradossi when she expressed her jealousy over his painting and he reassures her of how much he worships and adores her. The off screen lovers Alagna and Gheorghiu bring an added depth to this love and their kisses have added emotion. As Scarpia, Ruggero Raimondi is physically terrifying, his saturnine good looks combined with his icy stare sending shivers down the spine and bringing to the fore all of Scarpia's twisted sexuality. A bravura performance from a magnificent artist. Gheorghiu plays the coquettish spitfire that is Floria Tosca to perfection and her voice has seldom been more soaring and pure. Alagna wrenches the heart. A triumphant Cavaradossi.
Any doubters should watch the three added extras:interveiws with Gheorghiu, the director, and 'Maestro' Antonio Pappano. To question the Royal Opera House's intelligence in being involved with the film is ridiculous-they obviously were in agreement with what was going on and 'Maestro' Pappano himself is very enthusiastic about the project and what it achieves. This 'Tosca' is vibrant, dark, sensual and evil all rolled in to one. A version to watch more than once to relish each nuance. Puccini would have been PROUD.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Musically very, very good. Howver, if all I wanted was the sound I'd have bought a cd instead.
The stage performances are good, but the whole thing is marred by at intervals the view suddenly flashing with no warning from the stage to a rehearsal room with the singers out of costume & orchestra in shirtsleeves (without a break in the music!).
At the opera, whether in the operahouse or watching a dvd I want to watch the story being performed and sung while "suspending disbelief" and almost "living the story" as it were.
The stage performances are good, but the whole thing is marred by at intervals the view suddenly flashing with no warning from the stage to a rehearsal room with the singers out of costume & orchestra in shirtsleeves (without a break in the music!).
At the opera, whether in the operahouse or watching a dvd I want to watch the story being performed and sung while "suspending disbelief" and almost "living the story" as it were.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
DVD Review
Oh how I hate giving this DVD a 1 star. The orchestra and condutor were wonderful and the artists couldn't have been better. Read more
Published 15 months ago by H. J. Cazaly
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant singing with not so brilliant filming.
This is a good recording of Tosca in the musical sense but the film itself falls short somewhat. All the singers in the main roles perform incredibly well and make a fantastic cast... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Matthew
4.0 out of 5 stars
Flawed masterpiece
This production of Tosca is somewhat experimental, having aspects of film and stage type productions. For me, it works quite well. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. Mark R. Irving
2.0 out of 5 stars
Don't waste your time or money on this - get the CDs instead
The only reason for getting this rather than the CDs might have been to have it in 5.1 DTS surround sound but I strongly suspect this was recorded in stereo and then made into 5. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Basiledes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't be put off
This is flawed as described in several reviews. But don't let that put you off. There are some outstanding performances and moments of sublime magic here that make it compelling... Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2009 by Mr. P. A. Hyde
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a surprise
Watching an opera is always a compromise, lets face it singers are not the best actors, and they rarely look the part. with this Tosca the compromises come thick and fast. Read more
Published on 23 May 2009 by Lou Barnes
1.0 out of 5 stars
insensitive filming spoils magnificent performance
Superb performances by a stellar cast are badly marred by intrusive and unneccessary insertions of rehearsal and recording shots, even worse, occasional commentary. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2008 by Mrs. J. F. Green
2.0 out of 5 stars
A great musical performance but a disappointing staging
Unfortunately I must disagree with some of the other reviews who praise this film version of Tosca. Although there is no limit to my praise of the musical performance on this DVD I... Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2007 by cellofantasten
4.0 out of 5 stars
Marred by a few eccentricities
Marvellous music. A very good cast, where Angela is the biggest star and probably the best Tosca I've listen to. The conducting by Pappano is wonderful. Read more
Published on 28 April 2006 by N. Faria
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUPERB
I have two versions of Tosca on video - both with Domingo, one with Ruggero Raimondi and the other with Sherrill Milnes as Scarpia. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2005 by Jussi
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