Tosca - Pavarotti, Verrett, Metropolitan Opera [DVD] [2010]

There are so many modern recordings of Tosca that there needs to be a very good reason to have one with only moderate picture quality from 1978. There are two significant reasons that make this one well worthwhile. The first is the cast and the second is the most fascinating collection of extras that I have ever seen on an opera DVD.

The cast, of course, speaks for itself but towering above all else is the performance by Pavarotti, which catches him in his absolute prime with his voice at its marvellous best, but also at an age when his body size and ability to move really did allow him to act the part. He was never a great actor but in this role he was genuinely believable, particularly in this performance. In addition, his winning personality really comes through in facial close-ups and it is clear he has a real affinity with his leading lady, Shirley Verrett in the title role. Shirley Verrett is another legendary singer. She is vocally one of the finest Toscas that I have ever heard. She certainly sings marvellously well, particularly in the lower register but is surprisingly good in the upper register too. Above all she is an excellent actress and portrays the subtleties as well as the high drama of the role extremely well. Set against her it is just as well that Pavarotti is really able to act his part because otherwise this pairing would just have been embarrassing. Perhaps it is partly Ms Verrett who is able to bring the best out of Pavarotti's acting because they clearly have an excellent rapport. Cornell MacNeil was well known for his interpretation of Baron Scarpia and he here gives a classic performance. He has performed this role in previous productions directed by Tito Gobbi as is the case once again here. The interpretation is very much in that classic view of the role and occasionally comes across as slightly old-fashioned to a modern viewer. It is, nevertheless, an excellent performance both vocally and dramatically if one accepts that view of the character. I personally prefer the more modern characterisation brought to the role by Bryn Terfel, although Tito Gobbi explains in one of the extras why the classic interpretation has considerable authenticity.

In the orchestra pit, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra is conducted by a very young James Conlon and he produces excellent results. One of the extras on the DVD is an absolutely fascinating analysis of the music with James Conlon discussing the meaning and interpretation of the opera with James Levine, who plays themes and examples as they look through the score.

The extras are a fabulous highlight on this DVD because as well as the fascinating discussion of the music between the two great conductors, we also get a marvellous rehearsal sequence with James Conlon working with Pavarotti and Verrett. This really shows the great rapport between these performers, the perceptive insights that they have and the very attractive personalities which are entirely at odds with the impression of difficult divas and demanding tenors that we often get of opera stars. They are, of course, highly professional and make their own views clear, but they are also very generous with each other. There are again some fascinating discussions of the fine detail of performance and interpretation as well as some wonderful on the spot singing. The final extra is a discussion between Cornell MacNeil and Tito Gobbi on the performance and interpretation of the role of Scarpia. Gobbi is probably the most famous interpreter of the role and it is marvellous to see some of his thoughts about the background to the character and how these should influence performance.

The sound quality on this DVD is very good but the picture quality is less good, not helped by the fact that both the set and costumes are very dark. It is perfectly acceptable, but some of the detail is hard to see and on my copy there is a band of colour flaw down the left hand side of the picture throughout the entire opera which does not ruin the viewing experience but is rather distracting in places. This is the reason that I have deducted one star from what is really a five star record of great performances. I presume this flaw is present on the original video tape because it persists through the whole opera but is not present on the titles or extras. I should be grateful if anyone else who has this DVD would leave me a comment to say whether this flaw is present on their copy too. If not then I may have a defective copy and the withdrawal of the fifth star might be unwarranted.

The opera runs for 127 minutes and the extras run for a further 27 minutes, approximately equally split between the three items.

I find it absolutely extraordinary that this great 1978 production from the Met has not always been available on video or DVD. It is admirably staged, if sometimes rather dark and is blessed with three outstanding leads. The stand out for me is the late Shirley Verrett, who acts and sings the part of Tosca to perfection. Alone on the stage and standing rather than the more frequent kneeling she delivers the finest "Vissi d'arte" that I have ever heard. She is partnered by Luciano Pavaroti who was then in his absolute prime. His (so called) acting is of course restricted but he is certainly more mobile than in later years. The trio of leads is completed by Cornell MacNeil who makes a very evil villain of the piece. The act two duets between Scarpia and Tosca are particularly memorable. The production is well served by ther fine playing of the orchestra under the baton of the then youthful James Conlon

In 1985 Franco Zeffirelli masterminded an amazingly lavish production of the opera again at the Met, which includes a jaw-dropping act one set in the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle. This production, under the baton of Giuseppe Sinopoli, also has three great leads although I believe that Shirley Verrett just has the edge over Hildegard Behrens. Cornell MacNeil repeats his performance as Scarpia and might if anything create an even more evil character than in 1978. Cavaradossi is sung by Placido Domingo at his ardent best. This tenor's sound may not be quite as beautiful as that of Pavarotti but there is no comparison in the acting and here Domingo gets all the honours. It is the presence of Placido Domingo and the superior staging that makes the 1985 version my first choice but Shirley Verrett is such a fine Tosca that purchase of the 1978 production is also a necessity.

Trottman