Puccini: Tosca (1953) with Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi, cond. by de Sabata
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Composer: Giacomo PucciniConductor: Victor de Sabata
Orchestra: La Scala Theater Orchestra
Performer: Maria Callas
Performer: Alvaro Cordova
Performer: Angelo Mercuriali
Performer: Dario Caselli
Performer: Franco Calabrese
Performer: Giuseppe Stefano
Performer: Melchiorre Luise
Performer: Tito Gobbi
Edition: Music CD
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2003-12-02
Music Label: EMI Classics
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Act 1. Ah! Finalmente!
- Act 1. E sempre lava!
- Act 1. Sante ampolle! Il suo ritratto!
- Act 1. Dammi i colori...Recondita armonia
- Act 1. Gente l? dentro!
- Act 1. Mario!...Mario!...Mario!...Son qui!
- Act 1. Ora stammi a sentir
- Act 1. Or lasciami al lavoro
- Act 1. Ah, quegli occhi...Quale occhio al mondo
- Act 1. Mia gelosa!
- Act 1. ? buona la mia Tosca
- Act 1. Sommo giubilo, Eccelenza!
- Act 1. Un tal baccano in chiesa!
- Act 1. Tosca? Che non mi veda
- Act 1. Ed io venivo a lui tutta dogliosa
- Act 1. Tre sbirri, una carrozza
- Act 2. Tosca ? un buon falco!
- Act 2. Ha pi? forte sapore
- Act 2. O galantuomo, come and? la caccia?
- Act 2. Meno male!
- Act 2. Ov'? Angelotti?
- Act 2. Ed or fra noi parliam da buoni amici
- Act 2. Sciarrone, che dice il Cavalier?
- Act 2. Ors?, Tosca, parlate
- Act 2. Floria!...Amore
- Act 2. Salvatelo!...Io?...Voi!
- Act 2. Se la giurata fede debbo tradir...Gi? mi struggea l'amor
- Act 2. Come tu mi odi!
- Act 2. Vedi, le man giunte io stendo a te!
- Act 2. Io tenni la promessa
- Act 2. Tosca, finalmente mia!
- Act 2. Or gli perdono!
- Act 3. Andante sostenuto / Io de' sospiri
- Act 3. Lento (Le campane suonano mattutino)
- Act 3. Largo / Mario Cavaradossi? A voi... / Meno
- Act 3. E lucevan le stelle
- Act 3. Moderato con moto / Ah! Franchigia a Floria Tosca
- Act 3. Senti, l'ora ? vicina
- Act 3. Amaro sol per te m'era il morire
- Act 3. E non giungono
- Act 3. Come ? lunga l'attesa!
- Act 3. Presto! Su, Mario!
Music reviews of Puccini: Tosca (1953) with Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi, cond. by de Sabata
Music Review: I am NOT a fan of Madame Callas...........
Rating: 5 Stars
...if you are, and don't want to be offended/mad, stop here [but note the five stars]. Blessed with massive God-given talent, she had a defective technique that she wouldn't change, made bad casting decisions, and ruined her voice at a young age. Difficult to the point of being unprofessional, rude to fans and colleagues alike [What does a performer owe the fans? Ted Williams said he only owed his base hits, but he sure owed that. A singer at least owes showing up, and hitting the right notes], she was a terror. She got some bad cards in the game of life, but dealt a lot of them to herself. But. But. Sometimes the stars line up just right....this is the Tosca for the ages, and MAYBE the greatest complete recording of an opera ever made. Listen to Callas' "Vissi d'arte"...listen when she kills Scarpia, and later, herself. That's pure magic. That's why, in spite of what I wrote above, I STILL listen to Callas. She was off a lot, but when she was on, look out. If there was ever a greater Tosca she was either [a] Maria Jeritza or [b] a girl who only existed in the mind of Puccini. {The first Tosca was Madame Hariclea Darclee...she is said to have been fabulous, and judging by the quality of her assignments, she must have been, but good luck finding a recording}.
As to the rest...Maestro di Sabata carries the show...he makes great singers even greater. PERFECT orchestral playing in an opera where the orchestra has to set the mood [yes...I know that's true of others]. Giuseppe di Stefano may really have been more of a lyric tenor than Cavaradossi calls for, but he gave an absolutely wonderful performance, and meshed perfectly with Callas. If Tucker [or Caruso] is my ideal in this role, di Stefano is a good second choice. As for Maestro Gobbi, when was he ever other than perfect? When? Yes, there have been other great Scarpias...maybe they were equal, but none were better. Check out the story of the Scarpia costume he donated to a museum...and it's NOT funny.
OK, I've said enough, and offended Callas fans. I apologize for that. God rest her soul. And I do recognize her good points. When the opera house in Heaven runs Tosca, I want to see Jeritza on opening night. THEN, I want to see Callas. Then Madame Darclee. [and don't leave out Tebaldi]. But, I want di Sabata to conduct every night, with this orchestra. Well...Heaven is in the future; right now we have this, and it is absolutely the recording of the ages. Ten stars? Twenty? You HAVE to have this. Period. The End.
Description of Puccini: Tosca (1953) with Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi, cond. by de Sabata
Little can be added to what's been written about this landmark recording, except that Walter Legge's 1953 mono production yields nothing to modern Tosca recordings for vivacity and theatrical impact--especially Maria Callas's. The miraculous Victor de Sabata conjures up a vibrant, inspiring orchestral canvas that enables Callas and her stellar cohorts to work their magic. Tito Gobbi and Callas spur each other on to heights in which the characters take over from the singers in the listener's mind. Giuseppe Di Stefano is on his best behavior, and in fresher voice than on his fine Leontyne Price-Herbert von Karajan remake. On this set, EMI includes texts, translations, and notes that discuss this recording in the context of Callas's mercurial career. --Jed DistlerGeneral CDs
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