Puccini Tosca [DVD] [2010] [NTSC]

It was nice to see this masterpiece more or less true to the composers ideas and avoiding too many modern fingers in the proverbial pie. I quite liked the brickwork setting of the church although not looking very Roman for an Italian church interior. The second act was also well presented apart from the Ikea type furniture but I didnt get what looked like a swimming pool inset in the last act. The main characters were excellent in their parts both in voice and acting ability. Matilla has those wonderful chest notes similar to Callas that the anger and frustration of the role of Tosca needs. I loved her spine tingling lurch over Scarpia when she stabbed him not once but twice to make sure, Brilliant. Scarpia himself played by Gagnidze whom I had never seen before was perfectly vile and repugnant but with a wonderful voice and Alvarez playing the hapless cavaradossi completed the trio of fine artists.The performance itself was for me very good but it seemed that every point scored by the production at best were then marred by silly over the top gambles. For instance, you have a perfectly believable and spine chilling murder by Tosca but why did she finish the act by lying on the sofa and fanning herself. Surely she would have been more interested in her escape to save Cavaradossi? Also the final moments of the opera went a little too far with the frozen leap of a dummy which was so obviously not Tosca. Sorry mister producer, a gamble that didnt work and spoiled the final scena. A simple leap is enough. Puccinis music says the rest.This is theatre not 3D cinema! Everything apart I found this a very enjoyable Tosca in respect to the poor productions of the last few years. Last point - Nearly every conductor of twentieth century operas of late seem to have lost the raw edge of sound that I grew up accostomed to during the 60,s and 70,s. You would be hard pressed to pick out one interpretation from another.

I have no isues with updating productions and adding unconventional interpretaions, but this is just too much. I am compelled to begin this review by commenting on the production, which replaced the excellent Zeferelli production. Yes, they needed a new Tosca; as did Covent Garden, but at what point did anyone think it was a good idea to reveal the portrait of Mary Magdelene with a massive breast hanging out? When it is revealed, why isn't the Sacristan outraged and even more to the point, why, when Tosca sees it for the first time does she not shout, 'what the hell are you doing painting that woman with her breast hanging out, in a church?' The laughter from the audience when she asks, 'who is that blonde woman?' and later, when she reminds Cavaradossi to recolour the eyes instead of - 'bloody well cover up those breast! - says it all. I mean, laughter in Tosca; to me that sums the whole piece up. I agree with another reviewer about the end of Act II, it is totally unelievable that after killing Scarpia, Tosca would recline back on a sofa, as if waiting for another glass of Spanish wine! The freeze frame at the end of Act 111 is just risible, as is Scarpia's behaviour in church at the climax of Act I. In a drama as compelling as Tosca, it just isn't good enough to create so many diversions, making the audience laugh and the viewer lose concentration and start nit-picking at the production.
I'm afraid that the cast cannot overcome all the issues with the production, although I do think some reviewers are very ungenerous towards Karita Mattila - I like her! Marcelo Alvarez sings very well, but his acting is a bit dodgy and Scarpia is OK - nothing special.
One other point, why do they include all those patronising interviews and behind the scenes sections in between Acts. This isn't the only one of the Met's DVDs that does this. I can understand that during the HD relays, they need something to fill in and link the Acts - but on the DVD it breaks the concentration and suspends my belief in what is happening on stage. Although I suppose it's not as bad as recent release from Decca of Werther, when Jonas Kaufmann winks at the camera before the curtain goes up. Surey all this would be better included as extras, to view if you want to.
Personally, if you are thinking of buying this, then I wouldn't bother, there are much better Toscas out there. If you really want to see it, then I would advise you to catch up with it on Sky Arts 2.

I wonder if anyone in this production knows how to perform music of G. Puccini. K. Mattila has to stay away from any opera by Puccini (example is also very bad singing in Manon Lescaut, from MET too; ASIN: B001DHE9KQ), if so she can spare herself from humiliation and shame and the audience from disappointment. Luc Bondy is an ignorant and self promoting director who doesn't know the meaning of any word in this opera. Don't buy, please!